Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

J M Dick Peddie and George Washington Browne, 1897-8; alterations and extension Michael Laird & Partners, 1982. Red sandstone ashlar substantial 3-storey basement and attic, 5-bay neo-Jacobean insurance office, on corner site falling away to N.

S (ST ANDREWS SQUARE) ELEVATION: symmetrical. 7 bays at ground articulated by panelled Ionic pilasters and full entablature; arched openings with keystones; doorway framed by free-standing Ionic columns, with enriched spandrels and projecting entablature with SCOTTISH EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY carved in frieze, solid parapet; outer right bay with enriched spandrels. Upper floors 5-bay (outer bays double width) with giant order of panelled Corinthian pilasters, full entablature with heavy modillioned cornice. At 1st floor, corniced windows with 2 sets of transoms; 4-light to centre and outer bays, 2-light to inner bays. At 2nd floor, windows with single transom; 3-light to centre and outer bays, 2-light to inner bays. Attic with substantial shaped Dutch gables with segmental pediments at apex to centre and outer bays, joined by open balustrades.

ST ANDREW STREET ELEVATION: stands on battered basement. 3 left bays similar to above with pair of gables. 10-bay range to right with mullion and transomed windows; range of superimposed orders; no gables but row of skylights.

Return gable with pilastered doorway at ground. Rebuilt to rear.

Plate glass timber casement windows. Ashlar coped skews; corniced ashlar stacks; grey slates.

INTERIOR: entrance and boardrooms only survive, modern offices created in remainder. Revolving door to square 3-bay arcaded Italian Renaissance marble hall, of contrasting green and veined marbles; alabaster Composite capitals, mirrored infills to arcade; columnar screen to Jacobean panelled scale and platt stair with strapwork newels, 1st flight of marble treads; trabeated ceiling with modillioned cornice; black and white marble floor; panelled window bay; brass planters. Large room to W at front with trabeated ceiling, and smaller room to E corner. At 1st floor, arched screen at landing to central lobby with panelled dado and pilastered white marble chimneypiece, separating Boardroom and Dining Room. Boardroom half panelled with compartmentalised plaster ceiling; 2-tier timber chimneypiece with Ionic columns, bolection moulded marble surround and polished steel grate. Dining Room virtually identical.

BALUSTRADE: ashlar balustrade to basement area, articulated by panelled piers.

Statement of Special Interest

Michael Laird & Partners used a similar policy of retaining the principal spaces at 3 George Street for Standard Life (see separate listing).

Statutory address updated from '28 St Andrew Square with Balustrading, Scottish Equitable' to '28 St Andrew Square with Balustrading and 1 North St Andrew Lane', 2013.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.