A Prince Albert Memorial Keep towers over Edinburgh Castle, and a cylindrical Sean Connery Filmhouse adorns Festival Square.
These are among the grand designs that could have made the centre of Edinburgh — a World Heritage Site — even more impressive but they never got off the gound.
The architectural drawings of the projects are now part of an exhibition, Unbuilt Edinburgh, that will show residents how the famous cityscape could have changed if the buildings had got past the drawing board.
Altogether, 19 proposals that never saw the light of day, dating back 230 years, are being showcased as part of a festival of architecture. The works, mostly drawn from Historic Environment Scotland’s archive collection, include ambitious new designs and additions to some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks.
Among the works on display is David Bryce’s 1862 proposal for a large Memorial Keep at Edinburgh Castle to commemorate Prince Albert, which — if had gone ahead — would have altered the capital’s skyline dramatically.
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Ultimately, it took the form of an equestrian sculpture in Charlotte Square, with Bryce responsible for preparing the base of the statue.
Also on the list is an unsuccessful proposal dating back to 1919 from Frank Charles Mears for the Scottish National War Memorial, which would have seen the creation of a Roman-style “Via Sacra” or “Sacred Way”.
Mr Mears’s proposed design would have seen the Johnston Terrace route, located to the south side of the castle, lined with monuments and memorials. It was not progressed as the commission for the memorial was given to rival architect Robert Lorimer instead.
The 600-seat Sean Connery Filmhouse, with designs by Richard Murphy Architects, was intended, in 2004, to celebrate the actors’ connections to his native city, and the drawings were even displayed at the Venice Biennale. But due to the proposed location, the designs did not receive support and were not taken forward.
Neil Gregory, Historic Environment Scotland’s co-curator of the exhibition, said: “Unbuilt Edinburgh offers visitors a tantalising view of what the capital could have looked like had different decisions been taken.
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“These drawings help us to make sense of the cityscape that we see today. They highlight key episodes in the history of some of the city’s major landmarks and the careers of some of Scotland’s leading architects.
“It’s extremely fitting that these works are on display together for the first time as part of the Festival of Architecture, during Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.”
Roderick Binns, of the Edinburgh Architectural Association, added: “This exhibition is a wonderful showcase of Scottish architectural talent, innovation and creativity over the last 250 years. The buildings, monuments, bridges and other designs depicted in this collection of drawings provide visitors, as well as the architects of today, with a truly unique show.
“Unbuilt Edinburgh charts the wider developments in Edinburgh’s architectural landscape, design trends, influence and styles throughout the centuries up until present day.”
Unbuilt Edinburgh is on display at the Architecture and Design Scotland building in the Canongate from Tuesday May 3 to Friday May 20.