The six-figure restoration and refurbishment of a historical Edinburgh façade has been unveiled, almost six months after work commenced.
RBH, the UK’s leading independent hotel management company, invested £330k to preserve the Category ‘A’ listed building which houses DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre on the edge of the capital’s Old Town.
Formerly a well-known department store and now a 138-bed hotel, the building dates back to 1892 and is known for its large copper dome and recognisable V-shaped block which echoes New York’s iconic Flatiron building.
The recently completed restoration works took place in careful stages – ensuring minimal disruption to guests and the painstaking preservation of the polished cream ashlar façade and sash and case timber windows.
As well as careful, non-chemical cleaning to remove excess moss and algae to avoid damaging the historic stone, the timber window frames were repaired and redecorated, and secondary glazing was installed with the help of specialist window joiners.
New sandstone details that had been weathered beyond repair were also indented by expert stonemasons – including the replacement of large, curved, polished ashlar lintels weighing up to two tonnes.
Liam Shearsby, Project Manager at RBH who has led the works, said, “The historic façade of DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre is a recognisable site within the capital, and this investment has really brought it back to life.
“Given the significance of the building, we have been exceptionally careful and considerate with our approach to the restoration and refurbishment work, using skilled, expert tradespeople to ensure the end result stays true to the original façade. We’re delighted to see the results of the investment revealed.”
Marcello Ventisei, General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre, said, “We’re lucky enough to be housed in an absolutely stunning historic building which stands proudly at the outskirts of the Old Town – and which never fails to impress our guests.
“The team undertaking the restoration work have been fantastic in keeping any disruption to our guests to an absolute minimum – and we thank our visitors for their understanding throughout the works. We are proud to unveil the final results of such a significant investment and complex project.”