THE VIEWS FROM THE TOP
Given that one can see New St Andrew’s House from just about everywhere in Edinburgh, it should come as no surprise that one can also see just about everwhere in Edinburgh from the top of New St Andrew’s House.
Perhaps the owners of the soon-to-emerge ‘Golden Turd’ ribbon hotel should be encouraged to install 360º webcams here so that people around the city and around the world can enjoy the views from this spectacular vantage point at the eastern axis of the capital.
The weather when Spurtle visited on Tuesday was variously dull, overcast, bright, sunny, still and windy. These conditions – combined with an unexpected attack of the vertiginous wobblies – are reflected in the images below.
There are some spaces within the building from which – due to the dirtiness of the windows and the obscuring effect of wire mesh – the outside world seems unworldly. Familiar places look both closer than normal and peculiarly vague.
The roof affords unusual perspectives on James Craig Walk and Waterloo Place …
on St Andrew Square …
and on the rustic retreat of Calton Hill.
This is a good spot for counting patches and potholes along the length of Leith Walk …
for admiring Broughton …
the New Town …
St Paul’s and St George’s, from this angle looking more complete than usual …
and St Stephen’s, rising like a playground assistant above the chimney pots of Stockbridge.
George Street is full of bustle
but things are a lot quieter at rooftop level.
Some worry about how its successor will fare by comparison, but for now, for a little longer, New St Andrew’s House continues without interruption, seemingly unheeding – an Edinburgh landmark almost uniquely not at home in its surroundings.
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Dominic Berry These photographs are really extraordinary. So there was one good thing about New St Andrew's House all this time -- the views from it -- and no one knew!
Robin Gillanders Rock House from above!
Isabel Drummond-Murray I used to work on the 6th floor looking down to Leith - fantastic views all year round