A Marriage of Old and New: The Crescent’s Inspired Frontage

Edinburgh’s most upmarket development takes inspiration from Georgian architecture

SOME of Edinburgh’s most esteemed Georgian architecture has directly inspired the city’s most upmarket new development.

The immaculate glass frontage and sweeping curve of The Crescent by CALA Homes (East) is unapologetically modern, designed to the highest of standards by the renowned architect Richard Murphy OBE along with CALA’s own design team.

However, on closer inspection, the surprise design inspiration for the frontage of The Crescent becomes clear – for it is a like-for-like 21^st Century interpretation of the famous Georgian crescents of the city’s celebrated New Town.

Located on the 18-acre grounds of the city’s iconic Donaldson’s estate, extensive attention to detail within the design ensures CALA’s The Crescent is a welcome addition to its UNESCO World Heritage setting.

Gillian Tait, Planning and Design Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “It is quite incredible to see the extent to which Richard Murphy and his team have drawn inspiration and features from the amazing architecture of Edinburgh’s New Town, including Moray Place.

“This is clever, as it reflects the design principles of The Crescent to its historical precedents; and as such to the amazing surrounding architecture that has earned this part of the capital its high status.

“But it does it in a way that ensures it is not trying to copy history or create a mock-Georgian home – this is taking a design classic and applying the best of modern design.”

The exquisite design of The Crescent manages to capture both the impressive and functional features of traditional Edinburgh homes, while offering a sleek an ultra-modern reimagining.

This includes the building being set back from the road with separation created by a lower garden, duplicating the basements of Moray Place.

Similarly, apartments are divided by vertical expressions, creating a “colonnade” effect along the crescent itself, much like the individual addresses of the New Town’s Georgian streets.

Reminiscent of the stone steps that feature throughout the city, the effect is captured at The Crescent, with an elevated door providing a grand entranceway.

To reduce the sense of height at street level, a recessed uppermost floor replicates the designs at Moray Place, increasing the privacy of the impressive vaulted-ceiling penthouse homes.

Furthermore, tall reflective windows, whilst grand in size, ensure that privacy is maintained whilst simultaneously encouraging a great deal of natural light to enter the premise, and promote spectacular views towards the city’s iconic Playfair building and Pentland Hills beyond.

With the current release of apartments, duplexes and penthouses priced from £950,000 to £1,925,000, The Crescent comprises some of the city’s most sought-after new residences, with early demand high.

Construction started on The Crescent in the summer of 2017, including substantial excavations to create an underground car park to ensure the visibility of cars on site is kept to a minimum once it is completed.

To find out more call 01313 412 667 or visit www.cala.co.uk/thecrescent where you can view more information, as well as current availability and prices.