William Henry Playfair - Old College

Old College is a building of the University of Edinburgh. It is located on South Bridge, and presently houses parts of the University's administration, the Law School, and the Talbot Rice Gallery.

If it hadn't been for the Napoleonic War, Playfair would not have had a chance to be the architect for this big project on behalf of the University. Robert Adam started on the plan to replace a collection of dilapidated buildings in 1789. Just three years later, Adam died and at the same time the Napoleonic Wars started and sent income taxes sky high. With a loss of income, and the loss of Adam, the whole idea was shelved.

Playfair was appointed in 1817 to revisit the Old College development. He kept close to Adam's original plan - although the magnificent quadrangle (currently full of yellow machinery and dug up - thus cropped out here) was entirely Playfair's concept. The dome was not actually designed by him, but came along later built to a design by Robert Anderson.

The work in the quadrangle means that soon we will see it remodeled in a combination of grassed areas and paved terrace.

The other side of the quad.