Edinburgh Castle | Modern Comfort Meets Centuries-Old Stone

Edinburgh Castle stands as one of Scotland’s most treasured icons, A fortress etched into the skyline, steeped in history, and visited by millions every year.

But behind the dramatic views andancient walls, there was a simple truth, the visitor experience needed modernisation in one crucial area that everyone uses… the toilets.

A Historic Site with a Modern Challenge

In early 2024, the team behind Edinburgh Castle recognised an opportunity. The Castle’s washrooms, particularly in high-traffic areas like the Red Coats Café and the Queen Anne Building, were overdue for an upgrade.

These spaces had to do more than just function; they needed to fit subtly and sensitively within a centuries-old structure where every detail matters.

Improving visitor comfort was the goal. Respecting the historic fabric of the site was the requirement.

The challenge was clear: wherever possible, nothing should feel “new” in the wrong way. Any solution had to be modern, durable, and respectful of the Castle’s architectural legacy.

A Tailored Approach One Size Doesn’t Fit All

The team selected to deliver this challenge faced a unique situation, there was no off-the-shelf system that perfectly matched the Castle’s needs. What was required was something bespoke designed specifically for heritage interiors,

with thoughtful consideration for both appearance

and longevity.

Key design goals emerged

• Full-height cubicles that felt solid, premium, and fitting within the space.

• A custom colour finish to align with the interior palette of the Castle.

• A solution that could work around existing floor tiled skirting, preserving this historic element rather than sweeping it away.

This wasn’t merely an installation. It was a respectful collaboration between past and present.

Designing with Respect and a Little Innovation

To answer the brief, the team developed a brand-new full-height cubicle system, laying the

foundation for what would become the ELEVATE range (and later influence the Triumph

system). Each component was selected or crafted with care

• The cubicles were finished in a bespoke Mountain Ash, a hue that harmonised with the

Castle’s interior tones.

• Materials and joinery were refined so the system worked with the existing floor skirting

tile meaning the historic flooring remained intact and unchanged.

• Durable & recycled hardware and specification ensured the installation would withstand

heavy visitor use while looking fresh for years.

This was heritage-friendly engineering at its best blending subtle design with robust

performance.

On-Site | Calm, Coordinated, Considerate

Once the design was finalised, the logistics and installation were handled with the same attention to detail. The new systems were manufactured at Rearo, shipped to the Rosyth branch, then delivered to site using our own fleet of vans to ensure a smooth handover on

arrival.

Clear, comprehensive installation instructions accompanied the shipment, allowing the on-site team to work efficiently and with confidence.

A Result Worth Celebrating

When the work was completed, the impact was immediate and tangible. Visitors experienced a level of comfort and refinement that simply wasn’t there before but without the space ever

feeling out of place among the Castle’s aged stones.

A year on from installation, the facilities remain in excellent condition, so much so that the team was invited back to photograph the finished project. The toilets still look as good as the day they were completed, a testament to the quality of design, materials, and execution.

More Than a Toilet Upgrade

What began as a functional requirement became something more: a catalyst for product innovation. The bespoke full-height system created for Edinburgh Castle didn’t just solve a problem on site, it became a foundation for a new product range, now specified in diverse settings where heritage and contemporary use meet.