26 Gayfield Square, Edinburgh

24 and 25 Gayfield Square in Edinburgh is a classical double tenement building designed by Hugh Cairncross in 1807. This structure features a symmetrical three-storey design with a basement and attic, showcasing an 11-bay elevation facing Gayfield Square. The ground floor is characterized by smooth V-jointed rustication, while the upper floors and the entire centre bay are finished in droved ashlar. The basement has droved ashlar, and the side and rear are predominantly coursed rubble with droved margins and quoins. There are dividing bands between the basement and ground floor, as well as between the ground and first floor (excluding the centre bay), a cill band at the first floor, a main cornice separating the second and attic floors, and an eaves course. The centre bay is slightly recessed, and the fenestration is regular, with a three-bay basement featuring segmental-arched windows on the right advanced section.

On the southwest (principal) elevation, the centre bay at ground level has a timber-panelled door leading to the flats, accompanied by a 6-pane fanlight. To the left advanced section of the centre bay, there is a two-leaf timber-panelled door with umbrella glazing and a segmental fanlight, set within a doorpiece featuring sunk-panelled jambs and patera. The right advanced section of the centre bay also has a timber-panelled door with radiating batwing glazing and a segmental fanlight, along with a plain doorpiece. Each doorway is accessed by steps and a platt that overarches the basement recess. The second floor of the right advanced section is adorned with cast iron balconnettes.

The northwest (side) elevation consists of a single bay with a timber-panelled door at ground level. The building features predominantly 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. The pitched roof is covered with graded grey slates and includes stone skews and skewputts. There are several chimney stacks: one corniced, squared rubble and droved ashlar gablehead stack; one corniced, ashlar mutual ridge stack on the far right; two corniced ashlar ridge stacks on the front pitch at the centre; one corniced, part rendered ridge stack on the rear pitch; and two corniced, squared rubble wallhead stacks with droved dressings at the rear. All stacks have circular cans.

Surrounding the basement recess and platts are stone copes (only edging the basement) topped with spear-head and urn finialled cast iron railings.