Royal Commonwealth Pool, 21 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh

Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall and Partners, 1967-1970 (John Richards, partner-in-charge, Euan Colam, project architect, Harold Medd, interior designer, Ove Arup, structural engineers). Interior refurbishment 2009-2012, S&P Architects, (Chris Barr, director in charge, Mike Lee, Frank Polacchi and Charlie Christie, project architects, Buro Happold, structural engineers). 2-stage, with recessed upper stage (4th stage over diving pool at SE corner), rectangular-plan, Modernist swimming pool and leisure facilities. Dark blue-grey engineering brick to lowest level, facing panels of precast concrete and white Portland stone aggregate to balcony at access level, aluminium sheeting to roofs with pressed anodised aluminium panels to fascias of roofs. Structural steel frame interior members faced with concrete, tall steel chimney at SE. Sloping site dropping from Dalkeith Road entrance to SE corner at rear. Strip glazing.

Basement and upper levels recessed under deep overhangs. Wide flight of steps to entrance doorways with deep escape balcony continued around building on three sides. Shallower flight of steps the full length of the Holyrood Park elevation with small overhang. Ribbons of glazing at access level and upper levels with narrow hardwood frames.

INTERIOR: (seen 2013). Slatted Iroko pre-formed ceiling panels to all public areas; walls and floors with ceramic tiles and in situ terrazzo finishes. Fall of ground used to organise accommodation with a progression of descending volumes from entrance at NW to the lowest SE corner with deep pit of diving pool. 'Dry' accommodation at entrance level: main hall with ticket office, gymnasium (originally spectators' gallery and cloakrooms), café, children's area and other offices; 'wet' areas at basement level with main pool, diving pool and training pool, changing rooms and plant rooms. Seating renewed 2009-12 with original orange PVC spectator benches replaced by similarly coloured 1970s-style seats. Timing booths and offices now inserted below the slightly reduced raked seating.

Original pool with raked floor replaced 2009-12 by level floor which can be raised or lowered; hexagonal diving pool replaced by square one with similar moveable floor.