William Playfair was the brother of architect James and minister and mathematician John. His nephew William Henry Playfair is renowned as the architect of Edinburgh's 3rd New Town and more than a few neoclassical landmarks in the city.

They aren’t just flower beds!!! Fascinating peak beneath the surface of one of London’s new Cycleways - you can see the complex drainage system that ensures bike lanes help protect the capital from heavy rain & the effects of climate change. And don’t they look great when they’re finished? 💚🚲👍

Always enjoy this mansard-forward development in Musselburgh. It has some lovely touches. Today it looked like it was enjoying the sunshine.

HAMMERMEN'S ENTRY:—To earn an honest bob. #Edinburgh #hyperlocal #news

Speaking as Midlothian Energy Director this morning at really great event by Clean Heat Edinburgh Forum that focused on what Not for Profit could mean in delivery of heat networks. Considering where and how we ensure communities are embedded in delivery was great way to reflect on DHN benefits.

⭐Doors Open Day 2025 at Edinburgh Futures Institute⭐ 🗓️ Saturday, 27 September | 10:00 to 16:00 Join us on Doors Open Day 2025! Meet our staff, students and partners and discover how they are shaping better futures for all. 👉 Free entry! See the full programme efi.ed.ac.uk/event/doors-...

“The transport revolution isn’t coming from engineers in Detroit or techies in Silicon Valley, but women taking action. Discover the personal, political, inspiring stories of streetfighters transforming neighbourhoods through sheer determination.” -J. Sadik-Khan www.modacitylife.com/women-changi...

The Joy of Kerbs may be the title of my memoir. Really nice succinct and accessible guides on public realm (neglected) basics.

I am in awe of this product design! Whoever came up with a zero mess honey dispenser for those required to eat in transit deserves all the awards.

Bemused Scottish folk flying DUB to EDI observing queues of families and babies wanting to be photographed with the Sam Maguire cup today. Was nice to have a celebrity in our midst!

Glorious colours on the allotment today. Intimidated by sheer volume of plums harvested.

Some beautiful work on display at the Out of the Blueprint Print Expo 2025, celebrating 10 years of supporting young / emerging artists in Edinburgh. Zines and teeshirts on sale to support their excellent work.

“Institutional memory is important..” Know where the plugs are.

🧵 Scottish art is a subject I’ve always been interested in & includes many fine artists, some of whom are of national & some international importance. Let’s take a look at some Caledonian magic! [1]

Huge fire on Arthur's Seat visible from miles out the A68, hope everyone's ok

Fire at Arthur's Seat #photography #edinburgh #wildfire

Truly brilliant show about our relationship with land and customs and culture around it. Dialogue free with jaw-droppingly creative set pieces. So easy to bounce out of a bah-humbug festival mindset when you actually go see some shows. Art, eh?!

This is such a great perspective on how you can positively present city living.

🙌Landmark Scottish Passivhaus school is outperforming targets! Monitoring data from the first year of Riverside Primary - the first Passivhaus certified school in Scotland - demonstrates it is more than delivering on energy and indoor comfort. projectscot.com/2025... @sarahlewis.bsky.social

Fascinating, informative, alarming piece from the FT on the scaling up of data centres and implications for power and water infrastructure. ig.ft.com/ai-data-cent...

This is lovely - Waterstones are running a summer pre-order promotion and my new book's included! Enter code SUMMER25 on the Waterstones website or app before the end of Thursday 31 July to get 25% off. Pre-orders really help boost a new #book, so, thank you 🙏 #preorder #discount #offer #history

Fom the 'Water Women' series by Sonia Alins, contemporary Spanish artist and illustrator #WomensArt

Off to the ‘Word on the Wave’ exhibition - perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to see these early medieval manuscripts together. Nicely coincides with finishing a project, 6th anniversary with Paul and turning another decade. Hope to celebrate by finding inspiration for the next book in Dublin.

“We’re focused on protecting spaces that don’t benefit from heritage protection like a grand theatre or a big museum does.” - our @justinesimons.bsky.social✨ Great piece on our Culture at Risk office - aka the Batphone 🦇 monocle.com/culture/what...

Such a treat to revisit In the Mood for Love at the reopened @filmhouseedinburgh.bsky.social this evening. Definitely put me in the mood for more time spent there watching outstanding films. So happy it’s back.

Iconic anti-war poster, originally by US printmaker Lorraine Schneider, 1966 #ReframingWomenPrintmakers

Putting aside the facts that the "mega battleship" is clearly an aircraft carrier and that it is sailing *up* and not "down" the Forth, let us take this opportune moment to remind ourselves of the time an actual battlecruiser went up the Forth and almost took the bridge out. True story! 🧵🌉🛳️▶️

The Forth bridges looking not bad tonight (as filmed by Mrs McQue)

Can anyone point me to a really good history of the urban effects of changing transportation in a case study non-"Western" city through the C19 and C20? I'm interested in things like employment and urban growth, but also in sociological effects (changing role of neighbourhood, etc.). Thank you!

New publication! “Objects of Poverty: Material Culture in Britain from 1700” is edited by Joe Harley & Vicky Holmes. Our chapter is on the fireguard - a consistent absence in the archival record - and the campaign to introduce it into working-class homes. Order the book here: lnkd.in/eMz2kfkd

The PV array on Midlothian Council’s passivhaus Extra Care development in Bonnyrigg is twinkling with promise on a sunny day. ☀️ 💚 #passivhaus #solar

In Dundas Street in Edinburgh #windowsonwednesday

If you have the funds and the vision, please buy and restore the stunning Bernat Klein Studio, Galashiels - guide price £18,000. auctions.savills.co.uk/auctions/30-...

Molas, brightly coloured embroidered textiles using a reverse appliqué technique by women of the Indigenous Guna people, Panama #WomensArt

"At a time when 40% of plant species are at risk of extinction… …the restoration of the Palm Houses will help our world-leading scientific institute protect just some of the tens of thousands of species housed across our four botanic gardens” 💚

😍 Great idea to reinvigorate thinking around these objects. Open to all: "We invite thinkers, mathematicians, creators, researchers, and enthusiasts from all walks of life to submit their interpretations, hypotheses, or creative responses to one of archaeology’s most intriguing enigmas." 📷 NMS

I love Japan.

The "Words on the Wave" exhibition is featured in @smithsonianmag.bsky.social The article explores medieval marginalia—scribbled notes and doodles left by monks over a millennium ago. Visit in person at the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street. 🔗 www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/t...

That's not even the best tree in Edinburgh, let alone all of the UK. Lochend Park has a SPECTACULAR willow mangrove that deserve widespread attention.

Some public art invites a cuddle. #gothenburg

Really enjoying how flush the windows are in Copenhagen. So sharp!

"I think poetry suits stone, more than it suits paper, certainly more than it suits a screen. The poetry releases something latent in the stone. Wry bedrock wisdom." Kathleen Jamie on additions to the Canongate Wall. I missed it at the time. It's lovely. www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ju...

I love a summer evening bike ride over the bridge to Dartmouth #BikeHfx

The Scottish Government want to hear about your local play park. It only takes a few minutes and your views will help shape future plans for play spaces across Scotland. #ScotEduSky #EduSky #Scotland #ScotEY

📢 We are pleased to announce the date for this year's Scottish Housing Day! The importance of good neighbours and communities is the focus for this year’s Scottish Housing Day, which takes place on Wednesday 17 September. Find out more about how to get involved: ▶️www.cih.org/news/scottis...

Virtual Record Treasury unveils latest tranche of records of lost history of Ireland www.bbc.com/news/article...

Stained glass at Kirmington church, Lincolnshire by Glenn Carter

Spent a while admiring the gorgeous design of the Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg today. This 43k capacity stadium built for the 1958 World Cup fits so lightly into the city.

Orange is the colour: Went to check out Pannenhuis Metro station during my break in Brussels. It didn't disappoint. Welcome to 1982! #architecture

On a car free island off Gothenburg and slightly obsessed with their alternative modes of transport, i.e. many many varieties of golf carts (Club Cars) and palette bikes/trikes for the old schoolers. Want a Club Car!