Redevelopment

A city street with historic and modern buildings, with pedestrians and traffic lights.

David Chipperfield Architects were appointed in 2019 to develop proposals to return The Jenners Building to its former splendour and radically reimagine its future. Planning permission was granted in 2022 for a mixed-use development that builds on the department store's legacy and marks the start of a new chapter in its history.

Interior view of a multi-story building with wooden railings, staircases, and large windows, filled with people walking and standing on the balconies and staircases.

Masterplan Principles

1. Restoration

A fabric-first approach will be adopted for foundational materials, restoring or reusing them to preserve The Jenners Building’s aesthetic.

2. Reinstatement

Lost interior spaces will be reinstated with varying levels of historic detailing, with William Hamilton Beattie’s unrealised ideas providing inspiration for new additions.

3. Interventions

New elements are being designed to sit harmoniously within the historic fabric, sharing its materiality and craftsmanship.

A Future Shaped by a Legacy of Innovation

Princes Street extension, basement level

Rooftop works

An interior of a multi-floor building under construction with ornate archways and railing, no furniture or occupants visible.

The Grand Saloon Colonnade

‘We approach this renovation with utmost respect for the historic importance and value placed upon the building by the people of Edinburgh.’

Anders Holch Povlsen, AAA United

The Grand Saloon

One of the highlights of the restoration will be the Grand Saloon – a three-storey, top-lit central atrium that will be returned to its former splendour, featuring carved wooden balustrading, plasterwork detailing, lighting, and other design accents. The Grand Saloon will be open to everyone – the physical and symbolic heart of the redevelopment.

The Grand Saloon

Princes Street Atrium

The former double-height atrium above the Princes Street entrance, which was infilled during the mid-twentieth century, will be restored through the reinstatement of its roof light and mezzanine level, bringing daylight and grandeur back to the space. This will allow for the return of the historic Tea Room, a showpiece of Victorian design inspired by the architecture of the Alhambra Palace.

Reinstated mezzanine gallery

A room with dark wooden paneling and built-in bookshelves, sunlight coming through a large window, and a worn carpeted floor.

The Director’s Suite

The Director’s Suite comprises the original Director’s Office and adjoining Meeting Room. These timber-panelled interiors survive largely intact and will be carefully restored, becoming part of the flagship accommodation of The Jenners Building.

The Director’s Office