View of Omni Centre from New St Andrew's House

Category

Library Item

Item no

41779

Title

View looking down on the Omni Centre and giraffe sculpture on Picardy Place from the roof of New St Andrews' House

Artist / maker

Ansell, Andrew J L

Date

2016

Type

Digital image

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

New St Andrew's House was built as part of the St James Centre development, on the site of the eighteenth century St James Square which was demolished in 1965. The new building was completed in 1970 and occupied for the first time in 1974 by the former Scottish Office. It was closed during 1995-96 and remained empty, partly due to the asbestos which had been used in its construction. As a concrete building in the Brutalist style, with cliff face elevations and unattractive fenestration, it faced substantial public opposition when it was first built, and continued to be a somewhat controversial development.

It was demolished along with the neighbouring St James Centre and Thistle Hotel. John Lewis being the only part of the St James Centre to continue trading throughout the demolition and construction of the new development, designed by Allan Murray Architects. The retail centre, which opened on 24 June 2021, has more than 80 shops, a food hall and a variety of restaurants. A cinema is also due to open, as well as the 12 storey W hotel with its controversial 'ribbon' design, an aparthotel and 152 apartments which are expected to be completed in 2022.
The Dunard Centre concert hall, designed by Sir David Chipperfield, will link the St James Quarter with St Andrew Square when it is completed in 2025.

The Greenside area of Edinburgh, immediately to the west of Calton Hill, changed substantially during the second half of the 20th century and the early years of the 21st century. Tall, 19th century tenement buildings were demolished in the 1960s as part of Edinburgh's slum clearances. The Omni Centre, comprising a 12 screen cinema, hotel, bars, restaurants and a fitness centre was opened on the site in 2002.

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Related subjects

Animals > Mammals > Giraffes

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

Business > Service industry > Shops

Furnishings > Ornamentation > Sculptures

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Plants > Trees > Trees

Sport and leisure > Culture > Cinemas

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