- Size 16,192sqm
- Location Edinburgh, Scotland
- Client Nuveen Global
- Year 2024
- Status Built
- BREEAM Rating Very Good
- Sectors: Hospitality Interior Design
As the centrepiece of Edinburgh’s newest neighbourhood, St James Quarter, W Edinburgh is a landmark luxury hotel that establishes itself as a destination for performance, music and fashion in the historic Scottish city. The hotel spans three distinct buildings: James Craig Walk, an 18th-century Grade II-listed terrace; The Quarter House, a modern reinterpretation of historic Edinburgh; and the Ribbon Building, a bold landmark conceived as a bundle of coiled ribbons, reflecting Edinburgh’s world-famous festival spirit.
“W Edinburgh does more than put you at the centre of Scotland’s historic and culturally rich capital city – it immerses you in the spirit of the festival capital of the world.”
“This exhilarating addition to Auld Reekie’s hospitality scene features superior city views, a serene spa and a showstopping bar.”
Stats
360 °
views from top floors244
rooms across 3 buildings4
spa treatments inspired by the elements: earth, fire, air, water- Size 16,192sqm
- Location Edinburgh, Scotland
- Client Nuveen Global
- Year 2024
- Status Built
- BREEAM Rating Very Good
Every year, the storied city of Edinburgh is ignited with performance and spectacle during its unique programme of festivals, from Hogmanay to The Edinburgh International Festival and its famous Fringe — the world’s largest arts festival. Our design for W Edinburgh, the city’s new landmark hotel, proudly draws on this creative context, delivering a new interpretation of luxury for a city that continuously attracts and captivates visitors of all backgrounds.
The hotel comprises three distinct buildings positioned around the historic and newly redefined, St James Square. From the Ribbon Building to James Craig Walk and the Quarter House, each of the 199 rooms and 45 suites offers a new perspective on the city.
The Ribbon Building is a striking new landmark at the heart of the city. Its eye-catching, elegantly spiralling bronze exterior evokes the celebratory spirit of Edinburgh, as well as a sense of rebellion and creative disruption that unites Scotland and the W brand. It is topped by a vast, publicly accessible terrace that offers guests breathtaking 360-degree views over the cityscape.
In contrast, James Craig Walk is a listed terrace dating from 1775 that has been restored in its entirety as part of the project. The building epitomises the character of historic Edinburgh, with its robust stone facade, high ceilings and tall, elegant sash windows.
The Quarter House, which links smoothly with the Ribbon Building, is predominantly faced in understated stone.
The three buildings are connected by the newly landscaped St James Square, a largely pedestrianised square that will be a focal point and performance space for the hotel, as well as the wider city.
Our interior design approach unifies the three buildings, celebrating the rich context of Edinburgh and Scotland through interwoven narrative strands, embracing aspects from folklore and mythology, and referencing the country’s volcanic landscapes. Dark ‘charred wood’ panelling in many of the public areas is complemented by striking copper touches, while natural rock and deconstructed tartan designs feature across multiple spaces. Inside and out, the hotel celebrates the best of much-loved city.