12 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh

Designed by Thomas Bonnar in 1824–25, this is a 3-storey building with basement and attic forming part of a 64-bay classical palace block arranged as a crescent. The structure is Grade A listed.

The building is constructed in droved sandstone ashlar at basement level, with polished V-jointed sandstone ashlar rustication at the principal floor (painted at the south-west terminal pavilion). The first and second floors feature polished sandstone ashlar with polished dressings. Architectural detailing includes a base course to the principal floor, a band course between the principal and first floors, iron trellis balconies to the first floor, a cill course to the second-floor windows, and a band course incorporating a string course above the second-floor windows. A cornice and coped blocking course crowns the third floor, with a stone balustrade at the roof of the central 9-bay pavilion. Ionic porticos to the ground floor feature pilasters behind supporting columns. Giant Ionic pilasters embellish the first and second floors of the central and terminal pavilions, with architraves to the first-floor windows of the remaining bays (corniced to three central bays). Dormer windows break through the mansard roof. The entrance features ashlar steps at the south-west end and oversailing basement platts.

The north-west (principal) elevation presents a 59-bay concave central block flanked by a 2-bay terminal pavilion to the north-east and a 3-bay terminal pavilion to the south-west. The north-east terminal pavilion has windows on both bays across all floors, with a giant rusticated pilaster at the first and second floors on the outer left, and pilasters flanking the first and second floor windows of the bay to the right. The main curved block incorporates a portico to the penultimate bay to the left at ground floor and to doorways of the 9-bay central pavilion, with recessed timber doors with plate glass fanlights. Giant Ionic pilasters punctuate the first and second floors of four outer bays at each end and the central pavilion. Continuous balconies run along the first floor to the pilastered bays, with balconies in 3-bay sections to the remaining bays. Individual iron balustrades adorn the second-floor windows of six bays to the left of the central pavilion. The south-west terminal pavilion has a portico to the bay to the left at ground floor, with regular fenestration to the bays to the right and upper floors, and a corniced panel at wallhead to the outer right.

The north-east (Canning Street) elevation is asymmetrical, with a single window to the centre at ground floor and bipartite windows to the centre of the first and second floors flanked to the left by a single window and a pair of windows to the upper floor. Blind pointed-arched openings appear on the first floor of the left return. A 20th-century addition occupies the outer left.

The south-east (Atholl Crescent Lane) elevation shows predominantly regular fenestration with various additions and alterations, some linking mews blocks.

The south-west (Atholl Crescent Lane) elevation features a window to the centre of the ground floor and a band of four modern window openings to the right. A single window to the centre of the first floor is flanked by small openings to the right, with a window to the centre of the upper floor flanked by small openings to left and right. A single-storey harled addition stands to the outer right.

Windows throughout comprise 2, 12, 15 and 16-pane timber sash and case units. A grey slate mansard roof features a variety of dormers, principally modern box types. The north-east end has a coped skew. Chimney stacks are coped and rendered with moulded cylindrical cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods are present throughout.

The interiors were not seen as of 2000.

Iron railings with majority fleur-de-lys design front the street and entrance platts. Original railing-mounted iron lamp standards with glass globes and drum wells stand to the street at the north-east end.

Associated mews buildings at 9, 10, 13, 15, 18 and 20 Atholl Crescent Lane are predominantly 2-storey structures of rubble and ashlar construction. 20 Atholl Crescent Lane is a 2-storey, 3-bay building with sandstone ashlar to the north and an eaves blocking course.