George IV Bridge

A historic B-listed building in Edinburgh Old Town has been transformed into an aparthotel. Located in the UNESCO World Heritage site, this 163-year-old building was originally constructed to house the Protestant Institute of Scotland. Lee Boyd, working alongside clients Destiny Scotland, converted the first and second floor of the building from an ill-used office space into a contemporary aparthotel. The current internal layout will be reconfigured to form 8 self-contained units, all accessed from the original stone staircase.

The conversion sought to preserve and enhance the exterior form of the building, to protect its presence on the street, and to preserve and enhance the internal form of the building so that the scale and proportions of the interiors can be enjoyed by guests. Where necessary, interventions were clearly contemporary, and seek to take the form of furniture, so that a clear distinction between the original Victorian form and the modern adaptations is retained. The scheme features two mezzanine apartments, formed from the sub-division of the existing lecture hall, with double height living space and spectacular views over George IV Bridge and the Grassmarket respectively.