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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Site Details
Name
British Home Stores, Princes Street
Town, District or Village
Parish
City or County
Edinburgh
Status
B listed
Country
Scotland
Grid Ref
Grid Ref N
Grid Ref E
Notes
First major store of British Home Stores to be built in Scotland. Incorporates section of a first floor level external pedestrian walkway. Main door could originally be side-stacked to open up shop front in fine weather.
Cost £800,000-£900,000. On site of former North British Mercantile Insurance Co.
Services engineers Steensen, Varming, Mulcahy & Partners; Structural engineers: Ove Arup & Partners; QS George Berry & Partners; main contractor Myton ltd. Extension: Structural engineers: Ove Arup & Partners; QS George Berry & Partners; main contrzctor John Laing Ltd.
Additional information from Kenneth Graham (2008). Extension cost £2,000,000
Building Type Classification
The building is classified under the following categories:
Class classic
Classification
Original Classification
Notes
Department store
Not Known
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Street Addresses
The following street addresses are associated with this building:
Str Add classic
Address
Current Address
Notes
64 Princes Street
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Events
The following date-based events are associated with this building:
event classic
Event Type
From
To
Notes
Build/construction
1964
1968
Proposed
1964/04/10
Approval given in principle for new store, subject to submission of satisfactory plans showing buildings worthy of the site and the setting
Proposed
1964/08/28
BHS to erect new store on former North British & Mercantile Insurance Company\'s property
Scheme accepted
1966/04/15
Authorisation to proceed received from Ministry of Public Building and Works
Destruction/demolition
1966/04/15
Demolition of original building on site described as \'almost completed\'. Construction of new building expected to begin within 6 months
Contract offered
1966/08/26
Contract awarded to Myton Ltd, £900,000
Addition
1971
1972
Addition
1978
Extension and energy saving measures
Won award or awards
1982
Scottish Gas Energy Management Award
Completion
1968
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People
Design and Construction
The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
design classic
Person
Partnership Group
Role
From
To
Notes
Alexander David Gracie
A
Architect
1964
1968
Project architect
Maurice Kenfield
C
Architect
1964
1968
As British Home Stores Company architect.
Kenneth Edward Graham
A
Architect
1965
Partner in charge
Robert Hogg Matthew
A
Architect
1966
1968
In overall charge
Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & Partners (RMJM)
Architectural practice
1966
1968
George Berry
Surveyor
1966/08/26
Quantity surveyor
Myton Ltd
Contractor
1966/08/26
Main contractor
Ian Marshall Torrance Samuel
F
Architect
1971
1972
Extensions - architect in charge
Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & Partners (RMJM)
F
Architect
1971
1972
Extensions - with Samuel in charge
Kenneth Edward Graham
B
Architect
1978
1982
Additions and energy conservation measures - partner in charge
Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & Partners (RMJM)
B
Architectural practice
1978
1982
Additions and energy conservation measures
Ove Arup & Partners
Engineer
Structural engineers
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Clients
The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
client classic
Name
Notes
British Home Stores Ltd
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Related Buildings, Structures and Designs
Child Structures
This structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details):
Child classic
Notes
Name
Multi-storey car park, £35,000
Car Park for British Home Stores, Rose St
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this building:
bio ref classic
Author
Year
Title
Part
Publisher
Notes
Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M
1984
Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland)
Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd
p311
Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A
1996
A History of Scottish Architecture
p582
RIBA
1970
RIBA Directory 1970
RMJM
RMJM Practice Brochure
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Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this building:
period ref classic
Periodical Name
Date
Edition
Publisher
Notes
Building
1966/04/15
p192
Building
1966/08/26
page number illegible
Builder
1964/04/10
p792
Building
1969/07/18
pp29/79 - 29/84 with photos and plans
Builder
1964/08/28
p454
Building
1966/07/22
p150
RIAS Quarterly
2010
Spring
Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)
p.111: obituary of Kenneth Graham
row(s) 1 - 7 of 7
Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this building:
arc ref classic
Source
Name
Cat Number
Item Name
Notes
Historic Environment Scotland
Listed Buildings Register
51249
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum
RIBA Nomination Papers
F 6612 (Box 149)
Kenfield's Fellowship Nomination paper
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