3 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh

3 Regent Terrace is a townhouse built between 1826 and 1833, designed by William Playfair, as part of a long terrace of 34 classical townhouses. The terrace steps down to follow the road’s slope and originally comprised two and three-storey elevations with basements and attics; many now have additional third storeys, including the one at 3 Regent Terrace, which was part of Playfair’s 1831 design. The terrace is punctuated by two pavilions, each with three storeys and 18 bays, and advanced sections at each end (Numbers 11-16 and 23-28), alongside a twelve-bay, three-storey section at the western end (Numbers 1-4).

The front elevation is constructed of droved ashlar at basement level, polished ashlar for the upper floors, and coursed squared rubble with dressed margins to the rear. Architectural detailing includes a base course, dividing bands between the basement and ground floor, and between ground and 1st floors; a continuous wrought-iron trellis balcony with a Greek key border to the 1st floor; a band above the 1st floor windows (excluding the pavilions); a main cornice dividing the 1st and 2nd floors; an eaves cornice; and a blocking course. Doorways feature fluted attached Greek Doric columns. Windows are regularly placed on the front elevation, with architraved surrounds to the ground, 1st and 2nd floors, and panelled aprons to the ground floor windows. The rear elevation features predominantly regular fenestration.

The main entrance at the centre of the principal elevation has a timber-panelled door with a four-light fanlight, alongside windows to the remaining bays at basement level. To the right of the entrance, steps lead to a two-leaf timber-panelled door with a letterbox fanlight, set above a platt that overlooks the basement recess. The rear elevation has two bays, with a later two-storey extension to the centre. A cast-iron balconette is present to the 1st floor of the left bay.

The glazing is predominantly plate glass to the front elevation and 12-pane glazing to the rear, all within timber sash and case windows. The roof is M-shaped, with a central valley, graded grey slate, stone skews and skewputts. The roof features rendered, corniced mutual ridge stacks to the east and west, a small wallhead stack to the rear, and predominantly circular cans.

The front garden features stone coping surmounted by cast-iron railings with dog bars, spear-head finials, and a distinctive circled border, setting off the basement recess and platt. A wrought-iron lamp standard stands to the left of the platt. A random rubble wall with flat coping forms the boundary of the rear garden.