The Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh
No.8 Queen Street was designed by Robert Adam in 1771 for Robert Orde, Chief Baron of the Court of the Exchequer, and remains one of the most important and grandest houses in the city. It belonged to several private owners until it was purchased by the Royal College of Physicians in 1868. The house was leased to various institutions, but in 1957 the Physicians reclaimed it, and linked it directly to the neighbouring Hall designed for them by Thomas Hamilton in 1844. A number of inappropriate alterations had been made which severely compromised its architectural and historical integrity. An ambitious phased restoration, based upon Adam's designs for Baron Orde's house, was initiated in 1990 and completed seven years later.
The first phase restored the main rooms on the Entrance and Principal floors, including the reinstatement of two missing decorative plaster ceilings. New furniture and furnishings were designed to suit the principal rooms.
The second phase restored the rooms on the Chamber and Attic floors and the final phase completed the repair and restoration of the exterior, including completely overhauling the roof and repointing the stonework to the front and rear elevations.
