In a move bound to cause controversy across the capital, the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has applied for planning permission to erect 2 enormous logos on Edinburgh Castle.
One, facing Princes Street, would feature the 3-part Paralympic Agitos symbol, measuring 9.5m in height and 14m in width. The materials and colour of the structure are described as 'aluminium powder coated in blue, red and green' (Ref. 11/03565/ADV).
The other, facing towards Tollcross, would feature the 5 Olympic rings, and measure 8.37m in height and 18.3m across. The rings would be coloured blue, red, black, yellow and green, with a supporting structure in grey steel (Ref. 11/03654/ADV).
Neither structure would be independently illuminated, but both would of course look striking under the existing floodlights.
Given the ferocious reputation of Olympic organisations when it comes to racing after unauthorised users of their trademarks, Spurtle has decided not to feature the copy-righted mock-up photographs attached to the applications. However, you can view them and other relevant details here and here.
Both proposed structures have been the subject of pre-application discussions with the Council's Planning Department. Doubtless, officials there will have told them about the strict conditions regarding unsympathetic additions to Grade A-listed buildings in the Edinburgh World Heritage site.
Astonishingly, Historic Scotland – factor of the Castle for Scottish Ministers – has already given its consent to the plan.
There are no obvious aesthetic or architectural-heritage reasons for Planners actively to approve the proposal. To the uneducated eye, both elements resemble giant advertisements.
It is also hard to imagine what economic justifications might be found in their favour: the logos serve only to market events in London which have already blighted the tourism sector's prospects in Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole for Summer 2012.
Perhaps the signs are intended merely to distract out-of-work hotel staff by encouraging them to watch far-away proceedings on the monstrously ugly and little-used giant screen in Festival Square.
Strange to think of the recent fuss made by Edinburgh Planners regarding Real Foods's unobtrusive signage on Broughton Street, which serves only to attract custom to a hard-working, popular, local retailer.
Send us your thoughts, and we'll add them here.
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REACTIONS BY EMAIL
Mark Lazarowicz, MP It is diffcult from the photos with the application to get an idea of what these logos will look like in reality. I would be concerned that this could become a precedent for other publicity campaigns wanting to use such a prestigious site.
Malcolm Chisholm, MSP It's unbelievable that Historic Scotland have given permission for this when the Council can't even accept the totally reasonable signage at Real Foods. I shall be supporting Real Foods, by the way, in a letter to Scottish Minister who have the final decision on that.
Cllr Charles Dundas As a Council we have a duty to the appearance our city, but it is worth
remembering that every Summer a giant grandstand is affixed to the
castle dominating the skyline of the City Centre. In the light of this
semi-permanent fixure, I personally feel that the temporary erection of
Olympic logos by the castle may be acceptable.
Whilst I share most people's concerns about the increased
professionalism and commercialisation of the Summer Olympics, I do still
believe that the 'Olympic ideal' is a noble aspiration, and one which
the City of Edinburgh can, and should, subscribe to in support of our
sister Capital's event. There are very few other occasions where I think
that action like this would be acceptable, but in this instance I
believe that visible city-wide support for the games could be shown.
Next Summer will see millions of international visitors coming to
London, and Edinburgh will be incredibly well placed to attract many of
them up to our Festivals afterwards, as part of the associated Cultural
Olympiad.
Ultimately it will be for our Planning Committee to decide this
application, and as a former member of the Committee I am inclined to
trust their collective judgement.
Euan Leitch (Forth & Borders Cases Panel), Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland The best that can be said about the proposed position of the Olympic symbol on Edinburgh Castle is that it will cause no damage to the historic fabric. It will be a visual intrusion, albeit temporary.
Visitors to Edinburgh in the summer of 2012 will be unable to take photographs of that famous view without the logo and at least you can crop the temporary stands for the Military Tattoo out of frame. It's a crude connection to the London Olympics compared to the well thought out NVA event 'Speed of Light' planned for Arthur's Seat.
It's notable that neither the Athenian Acropolis nor Beijing's Forbidden City recieved the Olympic branding and the question remains, why should our historic site?
REACTIONS ON FACEBOOK
Mark Johnstone And here's me who moved back to Edinburgh to escape the blasted things....!!
Broughton Spurtle You should talk to the folk at The French Fancies – they moved here from Lyons to escape the trams.
Fraser Cook What possible benefit does it have for Edinburgh? if we were holiding the games here, then fair doos, get into the spirit.