Blending the Edinburgh Skyline

ProjectCalton Square

ClientPillar Projects Limited

ArchitectAllan Murray Architects (AMA)

Now an accepted part of the Edinburgh City skyline, it is hard to believe that the Calton Square office

and leisure complex had preoccupied developers and their Design Teams for many years before its final

concept could be realised.

As the last remaining gap site inEdinburgh’s East End and part of thecity’s World Heritage Site, getting thisdevelopment right seemed animpossible task. With many previouslyfailed planning applications that hadcost developers tens of thousands ofpounds, a new approach was needed.

The major problems, and reason somany previous applications hadfailed, chiefly related to the site’spositioning to the nearby Calton Hill –an historical and nationally recognisedfeature of the Edinburgh skyline.Previous applications had failed toconvince the planning authority thatthe sensitivities of this site andrelationship to Calton Hill had trulybeen considered.

This major stumbling block wasultimately overcome by an innovativedesign company using Graphisoft’saward winning software, ArchiCAD®.By using ArchiCAD, the architectswere able to create a fully rendered3D model of both the new buildingsand also the surrounding topography.This made it possible to accuratelyconvey how the proposal hadconsidered the site’s key locationwithin the city and the aestheticimpact the development would haveon the surrounding area.

The ArchiCAD generated designslaunched the creation of a vibrantcommercial development, whilesuccessfully retaining the aestheticand environmental qualities of theWorld Heritage Site location, andenabling potential difficulties to beassessed and addressed at thedesign stage (see figure 1).

As a result, an exciting 235,000 sq.ftleisure and hotel complex, a 185,000sq.ft office headquarters building, roof gardens and a new civic squareproviding a potential link to Calton Hillitself, were carefully co-ordinated intoa £75m development that provedsensitive to the existing restrictions of the site.

The FoundationsSituated in Edinburgh’s UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in the east end ofthe city’s New Town, near the historicCalton Hill, the site had been empty

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Figure 1: The Calton Square Site

for over 30 years. Numerous priorplanning applications had failed toconvince the authorities that properconsideration had been given to theviews of the Hill and the sensitivities of the local environment.

An international competition to developdesigns for the site was launched in1998. On the basis of their awarenessof the critical issues and what wasrequired to address them, it was wonby local practice Allan MurrayArchitects (AMA). A vital partner inrealising AMA’s proposals, and anintegral tool in overcoming the issuesarising from previous applications,was Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD software.

An old challenge put intoperspective The key challenge facing AMA washow to maintain the historic views toand from Calton Hill and, equallyimportant, how to demonstrate this tothe planning authority. A distinctivecomponent of Edinburgh’s skyline,Calton Hill houses the city’s twoobservatories dating from 1792 and1818 along with a host of othermemorials from the early 19th Century.The panorama from the top of the hillprovides one of the best views ofEdinburgh and it was vital, not onlythat the new buildings did not obstructthe sightlines from the city, but alsothat the vista from the hill top wasmaintained and enhanced.

“From the outset, it was clear that thevariety and detail of visualisations wouldbe critical to success. In demonstratingthat we had truly addressed theconcerns relating to the site’s position,it became obvious that our ideas hadto be presented in three dimensions.This was due to the complexities ofthe site requirements and the need toenable non-architect parties to visualisethe project for its ultimate approval,”explains AMA’s Kenny McNally.

Working with ArchiCADHaving used ArchiCAD for aroundtwelve months prior to this project,AMA had quickly and easily begun touse the software for basic modellingrequirements and was learning all thetime how to exploit its capabilities.

“We’d been using ArchiCAD foraround a year at this stage and hadbeen quickly impressed with its 3Dcapabilities which stood out amongstthe competition. It was quick, easy tograsp and had an inherently logicalstructure that reflects the fact it’s beendesigned by architects, meaning 3Dimages just seemed to ‘take shape’,with an almost effortless quality,”McNally continues.

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How AMA benefited from ArchiCAD’s Virtual Building™ Model

ArchiCAD’s 3D visualisation, illustrating the design within its context:

• allowed analysis of views and angles

• communicated the concept clearly to the planning authority

• allowed clients to see virtual walkthroughs (using the QuickTimeVR model

generated by ArchiCAD)

• gave an early indication of massing enabling strategic design decisions

to be made

• made it possible to accurately represent the listed church façade within

the design

The ArchiCAD software has been designed:

• with an inherently logical structure (reflecting the fact it was created

by architects)

• to ensure basic skills are quickly and easily grasped

• to allow materials requirements and precise measurements to be extracted

at the click of a mouse

• to automatically calculate floor areas, and therefore occupancy levels and

escape requirements

• to ensure changes made in one file are automatically adjusted throughout,

saving considerable redrafting time

• to allow elevations, sections and angles to be immediately and accurately

accessed using the unique ‘intelligent cursor’

• to facilitate file-sharing with relevant third parties

“Being able to extract information suchas material requirements or precisemeasurements at the click of a mousewas also a useful time-saving device,but more importantly an adjustmentmade in one elevation or aspect willbe made throughout the design (in both2D and 3D) – work that could takehours to amend on traditional plans.”

An immediate benefit of the ArchiCADmodelling approach is being able toget an early idea of the massing of abuilding. Using this software gives thebenefit of quick visualisations, enablingstrategic decisions about massing andform to be made from which thedesign of the building will evolve. The software automatically calculatesfloor areas, and therefore occupancycapacity and escape requirements,ensuring that the most efficient use ofthe space can be made – a criticalfactor to ensure the viability of anyproject. In this instance it provedinvaluable, as did the capability ofmodelling the surrounding area andchecking views of the developmentfrom the critical Calton Hill aspect.

Taking a Fresh PerspectiveThe ArchiCAD software was used tocreate a 3D model of the entiredevelopment and its context. It also

provided floor plans and elevations,which were then rendered as part ofthe supporting informationdocumentation (current issues of thesoftware are able to produce a rangeof ‘hand drawn’ effects on the 2D plansand 3D perspectives – see figure 2).

McNally continues: “Using ArchiCAD,it was possible to combine sitephotographs and details from the landsurvey to model the whole site(including Calton Hill) and then to viewit from a range of perspectives,adjusting the new buildings accordinglyto achieve the most appropriatemassing for the site.”

As a result, AMA designed attractiveroof gardens on the hotel and buildingand a series of cascading terraces forthe office development, which wouldensure the bird’s eye view from CaltonHill was enhanced, as well as breakingdown the mass of the building andworking with the key focal element ofthe entrance tower to the offices (seefigure 3).These elements proved keywhen it came to winning planningpermission. Indeed, at one stage theoffice buildings were subtly re-shapedas a result of an ArchiCAD viewprovided from the ground level up tothe hill, to ensure that the monumentscould be seen.

By modelling in 3D, it also meant thatviews and design details could actuallybe seen in-situ, avoiding the need forchanges to be made at later (morecostly) stages. The efficiencies andimproved coordination experiencedthrough the use of software that cancreate a ‘virtual building’ are becominga fundamental part of the success oflarge construction projects. Up-to-date design methodology is critical.

Something Old, Something NewOther complications came in the formof a listed church building already inexistence on the site but in a poor

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Figure 2

Figure 3

Photograph by Keith Hunter

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state of repair. Whilst application couldhave been made to remove thestonework, AMA actually elected toincorporate the structure into its hoteldesign – using it to form part of thefaçade for the leisure complex. Knownas the Omni Centre, this now includesa Warner Village 12-screen cinema, a hotel, health & fitness club and bars.

For some modelling software creatingold buildings or bespoke items canprove difficult. However ArchiCADachieved excellent results with AMAdelighted that they were able to capturethe essence of the robust structure andcontrast it with delicate structuralglazing. “The software was able toaccurately represent the listed structure,helping us to creatively incorporate itinto the design of the new building.The church façade has become animportant part of the hotel’s identity,forming a memorable entrance to themain reception area”, adds McNally.

Virtual weather The ArchiCAD model was furtherutilised to allay the client’s concernsthat the new public square betweenthe two buildings would be a windtunnel. A version of the model wasexported to a specialist consultantwho was able to carry out anenvironmental analysis to show howexternal weather conditions wouldimpact on the building.

This work required inputting thetopography and building outlines fromArchiCAD into a CFD (ComputationalFluid Dynamics) programme and thenincorporating average (2.3m/s orapprox 5mph) and extreme (23.5 m/sor approx 50 mph) wind speedsmeasured from the area.

“Essentially, we model the air betweenthe solid items that an architect mightnormally be concerned with,” explainsTom Scanlon of the Mechanical

Engineering department at theUniversity of Strathclyde, who workedon the analysis. “This just serves toillustrate the unique capabilities of 3Dmodelling and data - what we are ableto offer as a result of this technologyreally can avoid significant problemslater on. It’s great to see architectsmaking intelligent use of thecapabilities.”

Space ManagementInside the buildings, AMA used theArchiCAD model to carry out a floor areaanalysis to make sure space was usedto maximum capacity. The proposeddevelopment would include a mix ofuses and so the commercial viability ofthe spaces was another importantfactor in the design. An early indicationof the massing of the building and areliable schedule of areas was requiredin order to maximise the amount ofincome-generating space.

In the case of the cinema, for example(which was to include 12 screens), the occupancies of each room wereaccurately calculated in order tominimise the number of emergencyexits while still ensuring the safety ofthe public, thus maximising theavailable space.

Multiple options were developed toanalyse and appraise the layout of theground floor mall, allowing the viabilityof combinations of bars, retail outletsand restaurants to be quicklyassessed.

A bonus for the client was theopportunity to ‘walk’ around the publicfoyer, courtesy of the QuickTime VRmodel generated by ArchiCAD,enabling him to anticipate the scaleand atmosphere of the end product.

A closing viewAMA’s fresh approach paid off and asite that had been empty for 30 years

“ArchiCAD helped us tocommunicate with a range ofdisciplines and enabled therealisation of our designs in such away that they were both understoodand appreciated by persons withlittle or no architectural and designexperience and allowed us toforsee potential problems.”

Kenny McNally, AMA

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leisure and commercial facilitieswrapped up in a development of under£75 million. What had been needed allalong was, quite literally, a freshperspective (see figure 4a & 4b).

Ultimately, ArchiCAD provided AMAwith a powerful tool to demonstratevisually how their proposals addressedconcerns and how external viewswould be preserved. Since many ofthose involved in the design processwere not expert in reading drawings,the visualisation aspect was critical.

McNally concludes: “We knew exactlywhat we wanted to do and how to

overcome the problems that had faced

previous architects and developers.

The key was having the right tools to

do this with. ArchiCAD helped us to

communicate with a range of

disciplines and enabled the realisation

of our designs in such a way that they

were both understood and appreciated

by persons with little or no architectural

and design experience and allowed us

to forsee potential problems (see

figure 5). We now use the ArchiCAD

software for all our projects and on

many more levels throughout the

process, as we have become

increasingly aware of the product’s

intelligent capabilities.”

Allan Murray Architects was awardedthe Commercial Development of theYear Scottish Property Award in 2003for its design and implementation ofthe ‘Omni’ and ‘Calton Square’buildings, and the client received theProperty Executive Award forExcellence 2004 in the Office category.

Figure 4a: Preserving the views of Calton Hill Monument

Figure 5

Photograph by Keith Hunter

Figure 4b: Creating a new view from Calton Hill