Dates
Biography
The architect William Henry Playfair was born in Russell Square, London, July 1789. On the death of his father, Playfair was sent to reside with his uncle in Edinburgh. Professor John Playfair, mathematician and geologist and a leading figure in the Edinburgh Enlightenment, took control of his nephew's education. Following his father's profession, the young Playfair studied under William Starke of Glasgow. His first public appointment was the laying out of part of the New Town in Edinburgh in 1815.
Then, after a visit to France in 1816, he established himself professionally by winning the commission in 1817 to complete the unfinished University buildings (leaving the front as designed by Robert and James Adam). He also designed the city's Royal Terrace and Regent Terrace on the Calton Hill estate; the unfinished National Monument on Calton Hill; and, the Royal Scottish Academy and the National Gallery on the Mound. While Playfair's most important works in Edinburgh have been executed in the Greek revivalist or classical style - earning for Edinburgh the title of 'Athens of the North' - he was competent in other styles too. He designed New College for the ten newly established Free Church of Scotland, a jagged-lined rendering of the Gothic style. He also built country houses and mansions in the Italianate and Tudor styles.
Playfair died in Edinburgh after a long illness on 27 May 1857.
Found in 158 Collections and/or Records:
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/38
Scope and Contents
floorplan illustrating the wood framing arrangement around the staircases at the southern end of museum
symmetrical staircases beside cabinets. Wood framing meant to shape the interior symmetrically despite the differences in perimetral walls. Rich index of structural elements
On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen + watercoulor layers (pink, deep pink, yellow, orange)
Dates:
20th February 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/15
Scope and Contents
Plan of Ground Floor of the Museum new scale new format( the paper is much smaller than others-maybe due to a later trim) the colour of the columns, pillars and doors are the same showing the arrangement of columns showing entrance only in the middle and at the right hand side of the plane symmetry is achieved through addition of false doors (see left hand staircase? On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink...
Dates:
2nd July 1817
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/121
Scope and Contents
Partial section of column drum and elevation of Ionic capitol
Dates:
1st July 1819
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/90
Scope and Contents
Plan of staircase showing section through first and second landing
Dates:
4th February 1819
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/2
Scope and Contents
Floorplan of First Floor highlighting wooden structure details below seating
wooden structure
On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen watercolour layers (pink, yellow, orange, dark pink) pencil notes probably added later
Dates:
2nd September 1817
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/3
Scope and Contents
Floorplan of First Floor highlighting wooden seating in Practice of Physics Room later addition of pencil sketches. In the Practice of Physics room they are referring to the structure below the seating, to be seen in Plan N°2 i.e. P1[2] Other notes and sketches are highlighting details of the eastern staircase. The right hand side of the drawing trimmed of a few cm > the caption about the drawing scale is partly lost On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen red...
Dates:
3rd September 1817
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/1
Scope and Contents
Floorplan of foundations level section details of drain system -small and large - section detail of stone pier section detail of the wall of West façade at its ground level right hand side of the drawing trimmed of a few cm > part of details of the West Wall Section have been lost together with the caption about the drawing scale. Some additions have been made later in pencil, probably due to modifications to the drain system. Damage in the drawing (hole on the bigger part of...
Dates:
1st September 1817
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/9
Scope and Contents
Plan of the Roofing of the Building at the South Western Angle showing slating texts on the back of this plan Edinburgh 24th January 1818 This is number eight of the seventy two and referred to in the contract for certain work at the college signed by us of this date and of the 14th instant (signature) Kincaid Mackenzie (Lord Provost), Peter Lorimer, John Inglis (builders) slope roof skylights (rectangle and...
Dates:
8th September 1817
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/5
Scope and Contents
Floorplan of Second Floor showing the arrangements below seating of Chemistry room The right hand side of the drawing is trimmed of a few cm > the caption about the drawing scale is partly lost. all the floor is paved but no blue colour to notice. See NB note on the left hand side On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen watercolour layers (pink, yellow, deep pink, orange) pencil notes...
Dates:
5th September 1817
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/7
Scope and Contents
Floorplan of Second Floor showing the arrangement of the seating of the Chemistry Class-Variant number 2 not realised texts on the back of this plan Edinburgh 24th January 1818 This is number six of the seventy two and referred to in the contractrr for certain work at the college signed by us of this date and of the 14th instant (signature) Kincaid Mackenzie (Lord Provost), Peter Lorimer, John Inglis (builders) ...
Dates:
6th September 1817
