Old College, University of Edinburgh, courtyard facade: detail by Playfair
William Henry Playfair (1790-1857) was one of the greatest Scottish architects of the 19th Century. His father James Playfair was also an architect and his uncles were John Playfair, the famous scientist, and William Playfair, an economist and pioneer of information graphics.
Two of his finest works are the neo-classical buildings of the National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy which are situated in the centre of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Timeline of major projects
- 1817 Appointed architect to complete design work on the Old College, University of Edinburgh, on the basis of his proposals to complete the plans originated by Robert Adam. The building was completed around 1831.
- 1818 Commissioned by the will of the late Captain John McNabb to design Dollar Academy, where a building is now named after him
- 1822 Commissioned by the Institution for the Encouragement of Fine Arts in Scotland. The building was opened in 1826 and is now the Royal Scottish Academy Building, Edinburgh
- 1824 In collaboration with Charles Robert Cockerell, designed an exact replica of the Parthenon which was to be built on top of Calton Hill as the National Monument, Edinburgh. However due to lack of investment it was never finished and became known as Edinburgh's Disgrace.
- 1827 - 1828 St Stephen's Church, St Stephen's Place, Silvermills, Edinburgh
- 1830 - 1832 For the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Surgeons' Hall, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh.
- 1846 - 1850 New College, Edinburgh.
- August 30, 1850 Prince Albert laid the foundation stone of the National Gallery of Scotland. adjacent to The Royal Scottish Academy.
- 1859 National Gallery of Scotland opened to the public two years after Playfair's death.
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