Take a first look inside Edinburgh’s future National Centre for Music at Calton Hill, due to open in 2027, with this digital architecture film narrated by Edith Bowman. The fly-through showcases how the former Royal High School will be transformed into a vibrant cultural hub, preserving its historic architecture while creating a new space for music performance, learning, and collaboration.
00:00The former Royal High School is one of Scotland's most important but vulnerable historic buildings.
00:14A-listed and situated within the Edinburgh World Heritage Site,
00:19it's set for a major transformation into a national centre for music.
00:30Approached from the top of Waterloo Place, just 10 minutes walk from Waverly train station,
00:39visitors will be met by beautifully landscaped gardens.
00:47Accessible paths will flow to the visitor centre in the historic West Pavilion and Garden Café.
01:00Visitors will access the main entrance via the South Terrace, which gives stunning views of Arthur's seat.
01:12Moving through the main doors into the vaulted foyer, which has been created from the former boiler room of the original school.
01:28The bar will provide a relaxing environment pre- and post-performances.
01:41Lifts and stairs to the East and West will take visitors to the performance venues on the level above.
01:58Either side of the main performance hall are two octagonal ceilinged rooms,
02:03which were formerly the headmaster's office and school library.
02:08These octagons will become small, intimate performance rooms, seating up to 100,
02:14to provide the perfect setting for unamplified or amplified performances, rehearsals or workshops.
02:22Entering the stunning main hall. Visitors will be immersed in the unique interior, heritage and intimacy of this room,
02:41where nearly 200 years ago, school lessons were first taught.
02:44Flexible in layout to be either in the round or theatre style, the hall will seat an audience of up to 300 for unamplified and amplified performances.
02:55Chamber orchestra, small classical ensemble, choir, recital, folk, jazz, blues, pop rock, it really all could happen here.
03:04Through the main doors onto the fabulous Portico, visitors will take in the breathtaking views.
03:15The West Wing Ground Floor Cafe will welcome visitors inside and out for the best cup of coffee in town.
03:24Upstairs, events and conferencing space will provide a fantastic heritage setting for all scale of events in either one large space,
03:53one large space or three separate spaces.
04:00The East Wing First Floor will host co-working space, offering a creative hub for music organisations.
04:07The stage door entrance will see musicians, their instruments and equipment, flow into the building.
04:27Moving below to the ground floor. Rehearsal rooms, a recording studio and green room space will be a vibrant hub of collaborative activity.
04:49Where musicians, artists and those learning music will meet, chat and work together every day.
05:01Routing back through the entrance pen, visitors will move to the East Gardens,
05:16passing the East Pavilion, which will be a learning and development studio.
05:21The plants will be a horticultural representation of orchestral rhythms and patterns, changing throughout the seasons for ever-changing views.
05:41Moving towards the historic bell tower, a new piazza will provide relaxing seating or it could be set for outdoor performances.
05:54A pergola on the north retaining wall will provide shade and shelter.
06:00The gardens will give stunning views over the city and back to the historic main building.
06:15The 200 year old former Royal High School building and grounds will be transformed into a national centre for music.
06:23A fitting setting for where Scottish musical history will be made for decades to come.
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