LDN contrasts new + old elements in edinburgh usher hall extension

LDN contrasts new + old elements in edinburgh usher hall extension
photo © pygmalion karatzas
all images courtesy of LDN architects

‘usher hall’ is a concert venue situated on lothian road in the west end of edinburgh, scotland. it has hosted multiple events since its construction in 1914 and can hold approximately 2,200 people. for these reasons, historic scotland has registered the site with category an A-listed building status. LDN architects was commissioned by the city council to propose an extension that would resolve the practical shortcomings of this icon for the performing arts.

street view as the façade curves around the perimeter
photo © pygmalion karatzas

the designers explain their approach: ‘in true beaux arts tradition, geometry defines the extent of the work – a podium providing level access to all entrances, and a three-storey expansion accommodating the required additional space. the old and new doors acknowledge each other as belonging to the same institution but the new entrance, carefully angled to be visible without being obtrusive, does not detract from the significance of the three main doors.’

interior view between the extension and the original structure
photo © pygmalion karatzas

interior and exterior qualities
photo © pygmalion karatzas

the contrasting relationship between these two eras is further exhibited by windows in the new wing on grindlay street that display not only the public space within, but also the stone architecture of the central elements of the existing façade. the resulting composition ensures that there is no confusion between old and new, revealing the strengths of the original aesthetic.

looking up through the skylight
photo © pygmalion karatzas

details of the construction
photo © pygmalion karatzas

photo © pygmalion karatzas

speirs + major were in charge of re-lighting the building. one of the challenges was finding a solution to illuminate the spiral stairwell that links the hall with its contemporary extension. they developed the idea of a chandelier – a single shaft of light that forms the central axis of the circulation. the 13.8 m. installation uses lengths of fluorescent tubes encased within double acrylic cylinders, the inner layer is frosted to soften the vibrance, while the outer layer is etched with a ringed pattern that catches the beams.

see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

LDN contrasts new + old elements in edinburgh usher hall extension

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