Lodge Houses And Screen Walls, Mortonhall Crematorium, Howdenhall Road, Edinburgh

The Mortonhall Crematorium, designed in 1967 by Sir Basil Spence, Glover and Ferguson, with A Dewar as project architect for the Corporation of the City of Edinburgh, comprises a multi-denominational crematorium and service block, flanked by a large chapel to the southeast and a smaller chapel to the west. The buildings are executed in an Expressionist style, characterised by dramatic, geometric, angular shapes constructed from white calcined flint aggregate concrete blocks, coursed in varying heights and clustered to create vertical emphasis. Narrow, full-height windows are framed in natural weathered red cedar, with zinc roofs covering the structures, and bronze metalwork providing detailing.

The crematorium itself is a long, low, flat-roofed block with office and service access at the rear, and a chimney rising from the roof.

The main chapel presents a symmetrical, angular composition of slab walls punctuated by narrow windows set in the angles. A central, flat-roofed timber porch provides access, featuring timber doors with vertical glazed panels and an above window with timber fin-like mullions projecting outwards. A triangular zinc spire rises above, glazed to the south. The interior has white painted walls, a central aisle flanked by simple natural pine pews set at an angle. Tall south windows are glazed with coloured glass in yellow, amber, green, blue, and purple hues, while the walls are plain white. A catafalque is positioned in the altar area, with a cross and curtain displayed on the wall behind. An organ is located above the doorway on a cantilevered platform, accessed by a metal spiral staircase. Domed, bronzed light fittings are suspended low over the pews.

The small chapel displays a simpler composition, featuring two angular slab blocks placed at 45-degree angles on either side of the central doorway, detailed similarly to the main chapel. A circular zinc tower rises from the roof, topped with a skylight which illuminates the catafalque. The interior mirrors the main chapel with white-painted walls, simple natural pine pews set at an angle to the aisle, and a similar altar arrangement. A frieze of religious symbols is housed within glass panels above the cross. An organ is situated in a recess to the left of the altar. Yellow-coloured glass is used in the windows above the door, and lights are recessed into the ceiling.

A small remembrance chapel, located to the west of the main block, is constructed of two slab blocks with a timber screen separating the door and the windows, overlooking a grassed area. Two screening slabs situated on the driveway approach act as gatepiers.

A waiting room, located to the southwest of the crematorium, is a long, low structure of aggregate concrete block piers capped with a flat roof featuring boarded timber eaves. Glass and timber screen walls are angled to create three separate bays of outside seating, alongside an enclosed glazed area with concrete block seating. Adjacent screen walls connect to the service vehicle depot.

Aggregate concrete screen walls run alongside the main road, embellished with bronze lettering and armorial devices. Large timber gates provide access. Two flat-roofed, single-storey lodge houses are built on brick basement walls, harled and finished with natural boarded timber eaves, and feature plate glass windows with top-hoppers.