Appleton Tower

A lot nicer on the inside than it is on the outside — just don’t use the toilets on the 4^th floor…

They say that the best thing about Appleton Tower is that when you’re inside it, you can’t see it. Well, it’s true, you can’t. But that’s far from the best thing, and not at all the main reason that I actually LIKE going there.
So what is? Is it the spacious lecture theatres with good equipment, abundant power sockets, smart desks and sufficient legroom even for moi, Mlle Énorme? Is it the airy concourse and café area flooded with natural light? Is it the easily navigable layout? Is it the fact that it opens its doors on a regular basis to events for the general public? Is it that every August it performs an admirable job of being Fringe Central, refuge for weary performers, hub for media bees, space for workshops and seminars, treasure map for arts industry professionals?
Well, I don’t rightly know. But it definitely isn’t just not having to gripe about the architecture.

A campus eye sore…
60s called, wants it building…
What were they thinking…

I was in appleton tower for the first time in a while for tech meetup — a monthly meeting where about 80 developers gather together to eat pizza, drink beer, and talk about things that I mostly don’t understand being more from the end product side of the business. But hey. They can do the programming — I don’t get awkward and flustered in social settings (that is a joke — well almost).
The lifts scare me being old and creaky. The building has no opening windows and looks terrible from the outside. However it’s actually fairly nice on the inside. There are plenty of offices, and they offer some for free to budding entrepreneurs.
There is a café and computer bank downstairs for students. I sat exams in here at one point so being inside it always gives me a bit of a **urgh** feeling. However all in all — despite being the ugliest building in Edinburgh, it’s A-​OK

Appleton Tower has been constantly described as one of the ugliest buildings in the entire city of Edinburgh! It is one of those dodgy buildings that were built in the sixties, were architecture such as this was considered modern and on the cutting edge… they were terribly wrong!
The building from the outside is a disgrace and needs to be hidden from the fantastic looking buildings of George Square. Inside though, the building has gone under some improvements. The ground floor has a modern café with internet access! Furthermore, the lecture theatres are all very modern and impressive and are some of the best the university has. If you dare to go further up, the majority of the lower levels have been given a make over with a lick of paint a new carpet! However, the lifts still smell, feel and look old and do not give you the greatest amount of confidence!
The looks this building has are not glamorous by any stretch of the imagination, but sometimes there can be more to looks, sometimes beauty lies within… still doesn’t make it up for this building though!

I’ve not used Appleton Tower as much as many others, having only had one tutorial in the building. As far as ugly buildings go, it really isn’t that bad! Sure, it isn’t pretty from the outside and can’t compete with the likes of the Dugal Stewart building, but it’s got some great facilities inside. The upstairs classrooms are stylish with contemporary décor, new tables and seating as well as interactive whiteboards in the many of the rooms.
The downstairs café sells some great sandwiches and always has the smell of fresh coffee circulating. All of it is fairtrade so it’s not really cheap, but it’s a great place to chill out in between classes and have some lunch.
As I said, I don’t know Appleton all that well, but it has some great learning facilities and a pleasant atmosphere.

Edinburgh is one of the most attractive cities architecturally with buildings such as Edinburgh Castle, The Scott Monument and St Giles’ Cathedral. So why oh why did the University of Edinburgh sanction the hideous eye-​sore that is Appleton tower? It really does look out of place and would look more apt in 1950s communist Russia.
However, although it does look pretty disgusting from the outside, it is pretty cool inside, the lecture theatres are very much 21^st century and very spacious and the tutorial rooms are all fitted with LCD TVs outside. Also one benefit from being inside Appleton Tower is that you can’t see how ugly it is from the outside, so if you get a chance go to the top floor where you will be blessed with a beautiful panoramic view of the city.

This is my first one-​star review. And well-​deserved. The land Appleton Tower stands on used to be full of old beautiful buildings. Buildings typical of Edinburgh. Until the University (bad University!) decided that it would tear them all down and erect hideous attempts at a skyscraper. Edinburgh is not a city for those. Not at all. What they wanted to create was a new New Town. But why!
The word on the grape vine is that Appleton Tower got built because the university ran out of money. The architect showed the university his design and then told them how much it would cost. They grimaced. Then he showed them the other design. The one they could afford. He didn’t actually believe they would accept it, but they did. And now we have a building that has many a time been voted the ugliest building. EVER.

There’s a reason this 60s university building had its own student paper campaign to nominate it for Channel 4 series «Demolition». It’s hideous.
Now I know some people like Appleton Tower, they see some charm, perhaps some imprint of a particular age of architecture. I can sympathise with this. But not enough. Perhaps if Appleton Tower was one of the only remaining kind in the world I might have reservations about blowing it up, but even then it would be a struggle to persuade me.
What persuaded the architects and engineers of the 60s to build one of central Edinburgh’s highest buildings in this ugly style which even then, the potential for becoming quickly dated must have been apparent, I will never know. It maximally clashes with the beautiful old town aesthetic.
I don’t know whether to give Appleton Tower one star or five. It’s awful but in many ways I love to hate it, and I really do recommend in all seriousness (especially if you have an interest in architecture) that you check it out. It is a local «hot spot».
The view from Appleton is actually spectacular, especially from the North East. Though as one saying goes, «you get the best view of Edinburgh from Appleton Tower, because you can’t see Appleton Tower».