City of Edinburgh planning officials have recommended the approval of the applications to build a new music venue in the heart of Edinburgh city centre. The performance hall, designed by acclaimed architect Sir David Chipperfield and supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, would be the first purpose-built music venue in the city for one hundred years, with an acoustic and audience experience designed to rival the very best in the world.
Fergus Linehan, Festival Director and CEO of Edinburgh International Festival and Co-Chair of Impact Scotland, said:
The temptation in a Festival city such as Edinburgh is to think only about the next music commission or the next new play so it’s particularly important to make time to consider the long-term wellbeing of the cultural life of the city. Scotland takes its music seriously. It punches above its weight globally in music more than any other art form. The Dunard Centre, a bespoke venue located in the heart of the city is a gift for the musicians and the music organisations of tomorrow. It is a statement that Edinburgh is not content to live on past glories but is looking to a bright, innovative, and inclusive future.
The application will now be considered by the Development Management Sub Committee at a hearing set for 24 November.
Ingeniously inserted just behind Dundas House, the 1,000 capacity Dunard Centre links St Andrew Square with the Register Lanes and the new St James Quarter, transforming a forgotten site into an exciting new destination for music lovers.
Expert consultants Nagata Acoustics have been working with award-winning David Chipperfield Architects on the sleek auditorium design, which will welcome acclaimed UK and international musicians from the worlds of classical, traditional, jazz, pop, world and folk music. Nagata’s previous high-profile projects include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Philharmonie de Paris and Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, all venues renowned for their rich and immersive sound.
The new building will be a place where people can come together to see agenda-setting performances, with unexpected collaborations and bold programming designed to appeal to audiences of all ages and tastes. The flexible setting will host the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, as well as other ensembles, choirs, solo musicians and bands. A welcoming café and an all-day events schedule will ensure the Centre’s contribution as a cultural hub and showcase, with education and community outreach programmes encouraging participation throughout the region.
Fergus Linehan, Festival Director and CEO of Edinburgh International Festival and Co-Chair of Impact Scotland, said:
The temptation in a Festival city such as Edinburgh is to think only about the next music commission or the next new play so it’s particularly important to make time to consider the long-term wellbeing of the cultural life of the city. Scotland takes its music seriously. It punches above its weight globally in music more than any other art form. The Dunard Centre, a bespoke venue located in the heart of the city is a gift for the musicians and the music organisations of tomorrow. It is a statement that Edinburgh is not content to live on past glories but is looking to a bright, innovative, and inclusive future.