Designs unveiled for new Princes Street pavilion

Credit: The Ross Pavilion International Design Competition

The final competing visions for Edinburgh’s Ross Pavilion, the £25 million new outdoor event space to replace the Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens, have been revealed in an exhibition at City Art Centre.

Norman Springford, chairman of the Ross Development Trust and competition jury chair, said: “The revival of this, one of Edinburgh’s best and most prominent sites, is a hugely exciting prospect and we now have seven fascinating design concepts from some of the world’s most in-demand creative minds.

“These design concepts help us visualise how the new Ross Pavilion could both complement and act as a counterpoise to the Gardens and the Castle.

“The concepts will now be assessed in detail and the public will get their chance to comment.

“The jury will interview the teams and review and debate each submission in turn.”

Seven teams of architects from around the world are competing for the chance to design the new structure.

Competition director Malcolm Reading said: “Such was the appeal of the project that the competition brought the global design community to Edinburgh.

“Each of the finalists knows winning would be both a privilege and a career-defining moment.

“While the seven Pavilions show different approaches, the competing teams are connected by a shared love of materials, form and placemaking.

“Of course, these are concepts, and not final designs – the winning team will work closely to develop their ideas with the City Council and the Ross Development Trust.”

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Frank Ross concluded: “The global response to the competition reaffirms the worldwide interest a city like Edinburgh commands. It really is exciting to see the possibilities for the Ross Pavilion unfold and on display in the City Art Centre.

“We welcome all thoughts and comments from our citizens on the short-listed schemes. One of these designs is set to become one of Edinburgh’s most important new venues.”

The designs will be shown at a free public exhibition at Edinburgh’s City Art Centre, which runs from June 21 to July 30. The winning team will be announced in early August 2017.

Seven designs for the Ross Pavilion:

Adjaye Associates’ Design

Credit: The Ross Pavilion International Design Competition

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) Design

Credit: The Ross Pavilion International Design Competition

Flanagan Lawrence Group Design

Credit: The Ross Pavilion International Design Competition

Page / Park Architects Design

Credit: The Ross Pavilion International Design Competition

Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter Design

Credit: The Ross Pavilion International Design Competition

wHY, GRAS, Groves-Raines Architects, Arup, Studio Yann Kersalé, O Street, Stuco, Creative Concern, Noel Kingsbury, Atelier Ten and Lawrence Barth Design:

Credit: The Ross Pavillion International Design Competition

William Matthews Associates Design

Credit: The Ross Pavilion International Design Competition