This beautiful building is located on the corner of George Street and St Andrew Square.
The Capital Building is one of the finest examples of late Art Deco commercial architecture in Edinburgh, standing prominently on the corner of St Andrew Square and George Street. Although many people know it today as the home of Amarone Edinburgh on the ground floor, the building itself has a fascinating history that reflects Edinburgh’s role as one of Britain’s leading financial centres during the twentieth century. Originally constructed as the headquarters of the Caledonian Insurance Company, it remains one of the architectural highlights of the east end of George Street.
Designed by architects Leslie Grahame Thomson and Frank James Connell, the building was constructed between 1938 and 1940. Its striking façade combines polished black granite at street level with warm sandstone above, while strong vertical lines, geometric detailing and elegant proportions give it a distinctly Art Deco appearance. The building represented a confident statement by Caledonian Insurance, then one of Scotland’s largest insurance companies, and was designed to project permanence, stability and prosperity.
Capital Building – Entrance
One of the building’s most distinctive features is its impressive principal entrance on the corner of George Street and St Andrew Square. Flanking the marble-columned doorway are two larger-than-life bronze sculptures by renowned Scottish sculptor Alexander Carrick, commissioned in 1939. The figures symbolise “Safety”, depicted as a man protecting a young girl, and “Security”, shown as a mother with two children. Together they perfectly reflected the reassuring image that an insurance company wished to project and remain among the finest pieces of architectural sculpture in Edinburgh’s New Town.
Inside, the building was equally lavish. Visitors entered through an elegant marble-lined hall with an imperial staircase leading to a roof-lit rotunda. Beautiful stained-glass windows designed by celebrated Scottish artist William Wilson depict various commercial trades and industries, reinforcing the building’s original purpose as the headquarters of a major financial institution. Many of these architectural features survive today following careful restoration.
During the 1980s, the interior was adapted to accommodate multiple office tenants as Edinburgh’s financial district evolved. A further major restoration and modernisation programme in 2007 carefully preserved the building’s historic character while upgrading it for twenty-first-century office use. Today, it remains a Grade A-listed building and continues to provide prestigious office accommodation in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town.
At street level, the building has found a new lease of life as the home of Amarone Edinburgh, one of the city’s best-known Italian restaurants. Its location within this distinguished Art Deco landmark adds greatly to its atmosphere. Together, the building’s elegant architecture, historic sculptures and prominent position overlooking St Andrew Square make it one of the most attractive commercial buildings in central Edinburgh, and a fine reminder of the city’s rich architectural heritage.
Further Reading
The Capital Building – 12-13 St Andrew Square
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