Images: Jim Stephenson www.clickclickjim.com
Edinburgh Printmakers
The Edinburgh Printmakers new creative
hub is located within what once was the
headquarters of the North British Rubber
Company (NBRC). Our project involved the
redevelopment of this derelict building into
a multi-use arts complex centred around
printmaking production.
Central to the architectural concept was
to make precise interventions to facilitate
new use while respecting the character and
story of the existing building. The NBRC
building is the only surviving structure from
the once large and important nineteenth
century Castle Mills industrial complex.
At its height, NBRC employed over three
thousand people and produced a vast array
of rubber products on site, including the
famous Hunter welly boot. During the First
World War, 1,185,036 pairs of rubber boots
were made for the army with the mills
running 24 hours a day to keep up with
demand.
The Printmakers’ brief included provision of
two galleries, shop, café, education space,
staff offices, environmentally controlled
archives, eight creative industries units
and a large print studio. New architectural
elements are light of touch and stem from
an understanding of the heritage. The bold
new entrance onto Dundee Street provides
a public face for Edinburgh Printmakers
offering views from the street directly in
to the galleries, reception and shop. The
new extension to the rear subtly shifts the
centre of gravity of the building to create a
central courtyard around which all building
users can meet and interact. The courtyard
also addresses the broader redevelopment
48 - www.refurbandrestore.co.uk