4 Torphichen Street, Edinburgh

This is a substantial block of terraced buildings dating from the earlier to mid-19th century, likely designed by James Haldane. The structure is composed of three pavilions, with a further two-storey, six-bay classical block attached as a flank. The western section, adjoining West Maitland Street, has four bays, while the eastern section, connecting to Torphichen Place, extends to seven bays.

The exterior is constructed of various sandstone finishes: droved ashlar to the basement, V-jointed polished sandstone ashlar rustication to the ground floor, and polished sandstone ashlar to the upper floors, incorporating dressings. Features include a base course, a band course separating the principal and first floors, anta pilasters to the end pavilions on the first and second floors, corniced architraves, ornamental ironwork balconies to the first-floor windows of the central block, a string course, a cornice, and a blocking course raised at the centre to the end blocks. Windows on the ground floor of the end pavilions are recessed within round-arched openings, while the central block has box dormers. Ashlar steps and overlapping basement platts lead to the entrance.

The western block (numbers 2 Torphichen Street) features an entrance door in the bay to the left of the centre, with windows occupying the remaining basement bays. The ground floor contains a four-panel timber door with a round-arched fanlight, and windows to the remaining bays. The central block (numbers 4 and 6 Torphichen Street) showcases a timber door in the bay to the left on the basement level, and a blank wall beneath an oversailing section to number 4. The ground floor also contains a timber door with a rectangular fanlight and further windows. The eastern block (number 12 Torphichen Street) displays a portico with a dentilled broken pediment supported by polished granite columns and Ionic pilasters, leading to an architectonic timber and glass door with a fanlight.

The west elevation is obscured by an adjoining building. The south elevation was not inspected in 2000. The windows are predominantly 2-pane sash and case, with small-pane dormers above. The roof is covered in grey slate, with coped skews, and ridge and gablehead stacks with moulded cylindrical cans. The basement entrances are protected by spear-head and fleur-de-lys railings, punctuated by acorn-headed finials. The interiors were not inspected in 2000.