GRANTON GASHOLDER PARK
Client
City of Edinburgh Council
Project location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Project date
2024
Lighting New Life into a Landmark
Thorn Illuminates Granton Gasholder Park
A landmark of Edinburgh's northern skyline since 1901, the Granton Gasholder has been reimagined as a striking public space thanks to a £20 million restoration and regeneration project. Now at the heart of Granton Gasholder Park, this 165-foot-tall, listed structure has been transformed from an industrial relic into a vibrant community focal point— complete with dynamic lighting designed and delivered by Thorn Lighting.
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 bold yet sensitive lighting design that 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.
A Dynamic Urban Regeneration
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.
Illuminating the Gasholder
Lighting played a vital role in the transformation, helping to redefine the gasholder's identity and make the space welcoming after dark. The lighting 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.
Tailored Lighting for a Historic Structure Thorn specified a trio of architectural lighting solutions to bring the design vision to life.
Eroa inground luminaires were chosen to illuminate the gasholder's Corten lettering that says GASHOLDER1, with their 3000K output and available in multiple lengths, Eroa provides a powerful, even wash of light capable of reaching heights beyond 12 metres. The option for internal anti-glare louvres and glare-control films made it ideal for the park's urban setting—balancing drama with visual comfort.
Contrast RGBW floodlights, mounted strategically on the gasholder itself and controlled via a DMX system, these add depth and versatility to the structure.
Smart Lighting, Seamless Integration
With a consistent modern design and wide choice of beam angles, Contrast units allow precise highlighting of structural details while enabling a multitude of colour-changing scenes for events and seasonal displays. Concealing cables and achieving seamless integration with the structure required careful coordination—but the results are visually impressive and technically robust.
To enhance the user experience throughout the park, Aerie column luminaires were installed along key pathways.
Their soft, unobtrusive glow delivers high visual comfort and safety, helping to reduce energy use. Aerie is discreet and adaptable, designed for demanding urban environments, and suits the site's coastal location.
Community-Driven Design
Tetra Tech's Chris Dunbar, Senior Project Manager for the scheme, praised the partnership with Thorn Lighting: "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 project's success is evident not just in the striking visual result, but in its reception. The park has quickly become a popular space for residents and visitors alike, with the illuminated gasholder now acting as a beacon after dark and a backdrop for a growing calendar of community activities.
Shaping the Future with Light
Granton Gasholder Park shows how thoughtful lighting can support urban regeneration and connect communities to their local heritage, from an unused industrial site to a celebrated gathering space. The lighting scheme delivered by Thorn enhances this identity, combining dynamic control with energy efficiency and architectural elegance.