I visited the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, near Ratho at the weekend. I was there for a children’s party in one of the soft play areas, but I couldn’t help wandering around the building to take in the scale and feel of the space, as well as grab a few photos.
At Edinburgh International Climbing Arena. A great building. twitter.com/ESIinteriors/s…
— Owen Philipson (@ESIinteriors) September 22, 2012
It is built in to a disused quarry and was an enormous and ambitious project.
EICA atrium. Not for those with vertigo! twitter.com/ESIinteriors/s…
— Owen Philipson (@ESIinteriors) September 22, 2012
The five story building is a fantastic example of architecture interacting with the surrounding landscape.
EICA – the view outside. twitter.com/ESIinteriors/s…
— Owen Philipson (@ESIinteriors) September 22, 2012
EICA main climbing arena. Built into an old quarry. Slate floor! Safety matting beneath the climbing walls, obviously twitter.com/ESIinteriors/s…
— Owen Philipson (@ESIinteriors) September 22, 2012
The slate floor and stacked wall linings in the atrium are Caithness Slate. The stone from the quarry is dolerite, a quartzite rock that is similar to basalt. The building makes use of the local material, which makes perfect sense and gives the interior the feel of being in, or at least close to, a quarry, even when you are under a steel and glass structure.
Edinburgh International Climbing Atrena (EICA) – built in a disused quarry with ample use of local stone. twitter.com/ESIinteriors/s…
— Owen Philipson (ESI) (@ESIinteriors) September 24, 2012
The stacked slate wall cladding below is one of my favourite features.
EICA – internal wall! twitter.com/ESIinteriors/s…
— Owen Philipson (@ESIinteriors) September 22, 2012
It was designed by APD Architecture. Unfortunately the project was troubled and eventually went into receivership, being taken over by Edinburgh Council but it remains a fantastic building.
Tags: stone
