32 Gayfield Square, Edinburgh

30 and 31 Gayfield Square in Edinburgh is a classical double tenement building designed by Hugh Cairncross in 1807. It features a symmetrical three-storey structure with a basement and attic, presenting an 11-bay elevation to Gayfield Square. The ground floor showcases smooth V-jointed rustication, while the upper floors and the entire centre bay are finished in droved ashlar. The basement has droved ashlar, and the rear is predominantly coursed rubble with dressed margins. There are dividing bands between the basement and ground floor, as well as between the ground and first floor, excluding the centre bay. A cill band is present at the first floor, along with a main cornice separating the second and attic floors and an eaves course. The centre bay is slightly recessed, and the building has regular fenestration.

On the principal elevation, the centre bay features a timber-panelled door with a 9-pane fanlight at the ground floor. To the left of the centre bay, there is an advanced section with a two-leaf timber panelled door and umbrella glazing leading to a segmental fanlight. To the right of the centre bay, another advanced section has a timber-panelled door with umbrella glazing and a doorpiece adorned with a raised filigree pattern on the jambs. Each doorway is accessed by steps and a platt that overarches the basement recess. The first and attic floors of the left advanced section are adorned with cast iron balconnettes.

The rear elevation includes a canted section to the left. The building predominantly features 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. The pitched roof is covered with graded grey slates and has stone skews and skewputts. There is one corniced droved ridge stack at the far left, two corniced droved ridge stacks in the centre, and one corniced squared rubble wallhead stack with droved dressings at the rear, all topped with circular cans.

The basement recess and platts are edged with stone copes, with the basement only topped by spear-head and urn finialled cast iron railings.