Jestico + Whiles was appointed by TH Real Estate to design the luxury hotel which will be the centrepiece of its £850m Edinburgh St James development. We were instructed following a design competition that saw five international architecture firms present their visions for Edinburgh St James.

The retail-led development will transform retailing and leisure within the Scottish capital and is due to complete in 2020. The hotel has been designed as a bundle of ‘coiled ribbons’, creating a free-flowing and bold building which will complement the development’s elegantly understated masterplan.

Designed in conjunction with Allan Murray Architects, the 12-storey W Edinburgh will feature a striking exterior façade, evoking the festival spirit of Edinburgh and creating an outstanding landmark building at the heart of the city. Crafted from a winding steel ‘ribbon’, the design has been likened to spirals of paper, a reference to the many printing presses which used to pepper the surrounding area in times past.

The vision for the hotel includes a lofty bar, lounge and restaurant space boasting 360 degree panoramic views over the city.

The contemporary design will be sympathetic to the surrounding World Heritage site and its history, providing a first class destination for Edinburgh at the heart of the city’s new retail quarter.