Dear Spurtle,
As I have highlighted before on this platform (Letters, 27.3.25), the increasingly common practice of painting Edinburgh’s natural-stone basement walls brilliant white is deeply damaging to the character and architectural integrity of the city’s historic buildings.
Applying impermeable or plastic-based coatings to natural stone can prevent it from breathing naturally, restrict moisture movement and inhibit the gradual weathering that gives historic masonry its beautiful patina and sense of age.
What might initially appear to be an improvement in brightness can ultimately diminish the texture, character and authenticity of the original stonework.
Of course, light is important, particularly in basement spaces, but there are more thoughtful ways to achieve it without sacrificing the qualities that make Edinburgh’s historic architecture so distinctive.
Before reaching for a tin of brilliant white paint, consult a designer or conservation professional. We should be finding ways to work with our architectural heritage, not covering it up in pursuit of a fashionable aesthetic.
Edinburgh’s stonework is part of its identity. We should be preserving its character, not painting it away.
Mike Worobec
Claremont Crescent
