Case Study: Allan Murray Architects secures planning approval and protects Edinburgh’s Calton Hill views with Graphisoft ArchiCAD

Allan Murray Architects - Customer Case Study

Allan Murray Architects (AMA) was appointed to design Calton Square, the last gap site in Edinburgh’s East End within the city’s World Heritage Site. The major challenge was persuading planners that new buildings would preserve the historic sightlines to and from Calton Hill after many previous applications had failed; AMA addressed this need by using Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD to create clear, architect-led 3D visualisations for non-expert stakeholders.

Using Graphisoft ArchiCAD, AMA built a fully rendered virtual model of the development and surrounding topography to analyse views, test massing, generate walkthroughs and export data for wind and area studies. That workflow helped secure planning approval and realise a sensitive £75m redevelopment—including a 235,000 sq.ft leisure/hotel complex (Omni), a 185,000 sq.ft office headquarters, roof gardens and a new civic square—transforming a 30‑year vacant site and earning Commercial Development of the Year (Scottish Property Awards 2003) and a Property Executive Award for Excellence in 2004.

Allan Murray Architects

Kenny McNally

Allan Murray Architects