The Edinburgh Futures Institute brings new life to a former Royal Infirmary after years of dereliction. The project, completed in 2024, restored key elements of the grade A listed Victorian Hospital to their former glory and stitched in 6000m² of new accommodation alongside the existing hospital wards and corridors.
The structural concrete frames of the new extensions, located primarily between the north wings and along the south corridor are all exposed, and the clean lines of the visual concrete sit in contrast to the textured stone of the existing building.
The new frames stand off the existing building accentuating the contrast between old and new. Cast in shadow gaps manage the soffit interfaces to minimize the visual connection between the two and in all areas a materially efficient frame has been used to promote views of the existing building wherever possible.
A 450-seat event space nestles beneath the newly landscaped forecourt. This new space is characterized by a strong and elegant language of visual concrete columns and beams.
