A landmark of Edinburgh’s northern skyline since 1901, the Granton Gasholder has been reimagined as a public space thanks to a £20 million restoration and regeneration project. Now at the heart of Granton Gasholder Park, this 50-metre-tall, listed structure has been transformed from an industrial relic into a community focal point – complete with dynamic lighting designed and delivered by Thorn Lighting, a manufacturer and supplier of both outdoor and indoor luminaires and integrated controls.
Working closely with landscape architects Optimised Environments (OPEN) and consultancy Tetra Tech, Thorn was tasked with creating a lighting scheme that would enhance the visual impact of the restored gasholder, while respecting its historic character and listed status. The result is a design that, according to the company, celebrates the structure’s unique industrial beauty, provides safe and welcoming navigation through the park, and offers programmable flexibility to support community events and public art.
Granton Gasholder Park forms part of the wider £1.3 billion regeneration of the Granton Waterfront area. Once a key part of Edinburgh’s gas infrastructure, the gasholder sat unused for decades. The site has been transformed into a space for play, relaxation, and reflection following extensive refurbishment – including the careful preservation of 100,000 rivets and 26 towering columns. Visitors can explore walking trails, three play areas, and a central sculpture of a breaching humpback whale, a nod to nearby Firth of Forth wildlife.
Lighting has helped to make the space welcoming after dark. The brief required complete control over colour and timing, a low-profile installation respectful of the structure’s heritage, and glare-free, visually comfortable illumination for all users.
Eroa inground luminaires were chosen to illuminate the gasholder’s Corten lettering that says “GASHOLDER1.” They have a 3000K output and are available in multiple lengths, able to provide a wash of light capable of reaching heights beyond 12 metres. There is also the option for internal anti-glare louvres and glare-control films.
Contrast RGBW floodlights were mounted on the gasholder itself and are controlled via a DMX system. Contrast units, the company claims, allow precise highlighting of structural details while enabling a multitude of colour-changing scenes for events and seasonal displays. Concealing cables and achieving integration with the structure required careful coordination.
Aerie column luminaires were also installed along key pathways.
Tetra Tech’s Chris Dunbar, Senior Project Manager for the scheme, comments, “Working with the Thorn team has been fantastic. We were well looked after from start to finish – not just from Derick Ramsay, but also by the technical team behind the scenes and David Harris who supported with the commissioning. They all adapted to some tricky timelines and changes in the programme and still delivered an exceptional result.
“I can say, not just from myself but from the immediate community and stakeholders, it’s been exceptionally well received. Local feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The vibrant illumination has given one of Edinburgh’s most recognisable landmarks a whole new lease of life.”
The park has reportedly become a popular space for residents and visitors, with the illuminated gasholder now acting as a beacon after dark and a backdrop for a growing calendar of community activities.
For more from Thorn, click here.
