Mach 1 is go - The Edinburgh Reporter

Planning permission has been granted by The City of Edinburgh Council for a new kind of space at Edinburgh Park. This is not just another boxy style building however, but a multi-purpose building and art installation. It is designed by well-known Scottish artist David Mach and will be made from shipping containers.

The design is a joint project between architectural studio Dixon Jones and Turner Prize nominated David Mach. The end result is a dynamic blend of architecture and sculpture. Mach has been commissioned to design the marketing suite for the new quarter of Edinburgh. The unique, multi-purpose building and art installation, made from shipping containers, has been named “Mach 1” by Parabola.

Parabola the owner of the site has also confirmed that it will be commissioning a Scotland-based poet to write and perform a poem about Mach 1 in the new building. Working with the Scottish Poetry Library (SPL), the poet chosen for the commission will be expected to produce a long poem, for which they will be paid £3,000. The poet will also be expected to perform the piece at Mach 1 in early summer 2020.

In addition to securing planning permission for Mach 1, Parabola received planning permission to site its sculpture collection at Edinburgh Park. The collection includes work by Geoffrey Clarke (Past, Present, Future); Brian Kneale (Pendulum); Kenneth Armitage (Reach for the Stars) and Sir Eduard Paolozzi’s Vulcan, one of the last works of the Edinburgh-based artist.

Parabola’s founder and chairman Peter Millican OBE, said:“We are thrilled that the city council has granted planning permission to David Mach’s first building, Mach 1. To be able to announce this during the largest arts festival in the world is a very special moment for Parabola.

“David Mach’s vision and creativity are so in tune with our arts strategy for Edinburgh Park. Parabola shall be able to confirm the start on site of Mach 1 in the coming weeks and looking forward to a collaboration with David on his first building with the award winning team at Dixon Jones.

“Mach 1 will sit within an evolving landscape at Edinburgh Park focused on well-being with an array of world-class sculpture in a diverse and growing community which will be an exemplar of design quality and place-making. Public art is an intrinsic part of Edinburgh Park and we are looking forward to art, culture, leisure, sports and sustainable living melding in this new quarter of the city.”

“Parabola is greatly pleased to confirm our cooperation with the Scottish Poetry Library to commission a new piece of poetry to celebrate Mach 1. Working with poets, photographers, artists and performers is an important component of the unique vision Parabola is realising.”

David Mach said:“What we are planning to build, is a substantial building, made from around thirty sea containers. There is quite a dramatic shape to the building, not a regular piece of architecture. It will be something that you really notice. It is a building that really makes a statement about itself. It will be painted one single colour, possibly with a reference to that great Forth Bridge red.

“It is a building with a promise of a life in other ways – as a Fringe venue, a great place for comedy, for music, for talks. The look of the building is the important thing to me as a sculptor and now as an ‘accidental architect’.”

An arts programme is being developed by Parabola, under the direction of Arts Curator Matthew Jarratt, and will be submitted as part of the Southern Phase Masterplan proposals. As part of this Parabola will support two residencies for emerging writers and photographers who will respond to the construction activity on site, and exhibit in the marketing suite. Their work will offer opportunities for outreach with local schools, and will hopefully influence aspects of the public realm.

Matthew Jarratt, Arts Curator to Parabola commented:“Parabola really understands the true meaning and value of public art and has a laudable history with developments in Newcastle and London using public art and sculpture to transform the space and the perception of the location. It is exciting to be working with a project that encourages and cherishes the real boon that the arts will bring to the realization of Parabola’s vision for a thriving, vibrant community.”

Tony Hordon, Managing Director of Parabola, said:“Mach 1 will act as a landmark for the southern phase of Edinburgh Park, particularly to those travelling past on the tram. One of the building’s functions is as a show case for the masterplan as a whole, and initially for the first phase of construction. A large double height exhibition room will provide a gallery-like space in which to exhibit a full site model, detailed building models, illustrations and information boards as well as audio-visual displays. The space will also include a small coffee bar serving drinks and light snacks to guests and visitors. The main ‘gallery room’ has been designed as a flexible space with gallery specification walls and lighting to accommodate changing displays. There is also a large chair store so the suite can be used for a single guest or be changed to suit a large presentation. Up to 144 people could be accommodated for a seated event such as a talk or debate.”

Parabola has confirmed that work at Edinburgh Park on the first phase of the creation of a new quarter of the city is to begin within weeks. Contractors Sir Robert McAlpine have been appointed and are expected to begin construction on the first office building to be developed at Edinburgh Park in the past decade.

The first phase of new development includes high quality offices, a new public square, sports and leisure facilities including football pitches and tennis courts, shops, bars, restaurants, a health centre, and extensive landscaping. There is also to be a performance arts space in the very first phase building constructed as part of the masterplan. This building will be designed to meet future workspace needs with flexible space for individual business users and businesses which will adapt to their needs.

The construction at Edinburgh Park is the largest single site development to be advanced in Edinburgh at present.

The economic development potential for the first phase of Parabola’s plans is estimated at creating nearly 5,500 job opportunities. Studies into the overall potential of the site when fully developed estimate that up to 7000 job opportunities will be realized when the new quarter is complete.

Parabola has delivered a variety of highly successful projects across the UK, including Kings Place,London and Central Square and Central Square South, Newcastle.