Pollock Halls

Name: Chancellor’s Court Halls of Residence, Pollock Halls

Location: Edinburgh

NGR: NT27035 72340

Classification: Halls of Residence/University Campus

Date: 1999-2000

Landscape Architect: Keith Horner and Debbie Harrison, Turnbull Jeffery Partnership

Status:

Canmore ID: 69994

Description:

Landscape design of a series of spaces around newly developed halls of residence buildings, representing a fine example of contemporary student accommodation planning.

Pollock Halls is a magnificent, landscaped home to many of the University of Edinburgh’s halls of residence. Located adjacent to Holyrood Park and set beneath the towering mass of Arthur’s Seat, the expansive grounds were once the gardens of several large historic houses. Several phases of development have been undertaken, and under the careful management of the University’s Landscape Section, the grounds have become a renowned and well-established amenity landscape, educational botanical resource and setting for the residences.

The Chancellor’s Court residences define and overlook a new central modern ‘collegiate’ courtyard, which has been extensively planted to allow the landscape to flow continuously through the grounds. The layout incorporates a sequence of simple, broad desire lines between the new halls and adjacent buildings and approaches, and simple areas of lawn contrast with the generously planted areas. The new courtyard space and its varied planting provides a lush and verdant setting and character to the whole development, linking the new spaces seamlessly into the wider pattern of open spaces throughout the residences.

The embracing layout of the new halls establishes a sheltered, secluded atmosphere to the main courtyard space, creating a distinctive contemporary, collegiate-style character to the project, which is significantly enhanced by the richly textured planting style. Text by: Keith Horner. Proposed by: Keith Horner

Leave a Reply Cancel reply