27 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh

27 Regent Terrace is a townhouse built between 1826 and 1833 to a design by William Playfair, as part of a long terrace of 34 classical townhouses. The terrace is notable for its design, which includes two larger pavilions and a stepped layout following the slope of the road. Many of the original two-storey, attic and basement houses have been extended upwards with a third storey.

The principal elevation is of three storeys and a basement, constructed with painted droved ashlar at basement level and polished ashlar to the upper floors, while the rear elevation features coursed squared rubble with dressed margins. Key features include a base course, dividing bands between floors, a continuous cast-iron trellis balcony with a Greek key border on the first floor, a second-floor cill course, eaves cornice, and a blocking course. A painted doorpiece with fluted attached Greek Doric columns provides entrance. The windows are regularly placed with architraves to the ground and first floors, and panelled aprons to the ground floor windows.

The basement level features a timber-panelled door with a fanlight. Steps lead to the main entrance, also a timber-panelled door with a letterbox fanlight. Timber pelmets are present on the ground and first floor windows. The rear elevation is simpler, with an eaves course.

The front elevation incorporates plate glass on the first floor and four-pane glazing to the ground and first floors elsewhere. The rear elevation features a mix of glazing patterns, including 16-lying-pane and 12-pane sash and case windows. The roof is an M-roof covered in graded grey slate, with stone skews and skewputts, and corniced mutual ridge stacks with octagonal flues and circular cans.

The front garden is enclosed by stone walls with cast-iron railings featuring dog bars, spear-head finials, and a distinctive circled border. A random rubble boundary wall forms the rear garden boundary with flat coping.

Inside, the basement retains an original dumb waiter. The ground floor lobby contains a round-headed niche and excellent plasterwork, while the former dining room boasts good plasterwork and a classical stone fireplace.