Usher Hall extension

architectural photography editorial usher hall edinburgh LDN Architects Pygmalion Karatzas contemporary design Public buildings

Usher Hall extension in Edinburgh by LDN Architects

Usher Hall is a concert hall situated on Lothian Road in the west end of Edinburgh Scotland. It has hosted concerts and events since its construction in 1914 and can hold approximately 2,200 people. Historic Scotland has registered the Hall with Category A listed building status.

LDN Architects were commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council to propose an extension that would resolve the practical shortcomings of this iconic building for the performing arts in Scotland.

The architects explain their approach:

“In true beaux arts tradition, geometry defines the extent of the new work – a podium providing level access to all entrances, and a three storey extension accommodating the required additional space. The entrance to the new wing is, like the main entrance doors to the Hall, off the new podium. The old and new doors acknowledge each other as belonging to the same institution but the new entrance, carefully angled to be visible without being obtrusive, does not detract from the significance of the three main doors. The relationship between old and new is further exhibited by windows in the new wing on Grindlay Street that display not only the public space within but also the stone architecture of the central elements of the existing Grindlay Street façade. The resulting composition ensures that there is no confusion between old and new, that the new complements rather than competes with the old, that the strengths of the original design are revealed. Yet the new wing gives a clear signal of renewal for the Usher Hall and an invitation to celebrate and enjoy the place in a new and relevant way.”

Speirs + Major were in charge of re-lighting Usher Hall. One of the challenges was finding a solution to lighting the modern spiral stairwell that links the original building with its modern extension. The developed the idea of a chandelier – a single shaft of light that forms the central axis of the spiral staircase. The 13.8 m. chandelier uses lengths of fluorescent tubes encased within double acrylic cylinders, the inner layer is frosted to soften the light while the outer layer is etched with a ringed pattern that catches the light.