Unusual amongst their catalogue however was this Edinburgh Hospital constructed between 1960 and 1968. It was arguably one of the most influential designs for a hospital pavilion but was sadly lost through fire in 2002.

It’s design continues to inspire however and Malcolm Fraser adopted its style for a new housing development within the hospital grounds.

Leslie remarks: “This was a Ferranti factory building and EAA Medal winner in 1988. It lasted about 12 years. Going…. Going….. Gone.”

The Marketing Suite was built to provide accommodation for the Zoo’s public relations department. At that point Smith Scott Mullan were a young emerging practice and both Alistair Scott and Eugene Mullan were involved with this tiny 45m² building. It was also their first building to win an award.

The design was a highly crafted response to a tight budget (originally established for a portakabin) and represents an early approach to agendas such as sustainability and disabled access which have become mainstream in the intervening years. It is a highly insulated timber structure which relies on passive solar gain for a substantial percentage of its heating load.

Currently “under threat” due to the Zoo’s expansion plans, where this area of the site would be developed for a comprehensive entrance statement, the opinion of the architects is summed up by SSM director Alistair Scott – “This was an important little project for us and is obviously very close to our hearts. We do, however, understand the Zoo having to move on and see their masterplan as a bold response, for which the loss of our building will be sad but ultimately necessary. We never thought we would be possible members of such an august architectural elite as the Macallan Club but now this may be approaching it has an undoubted allure.”

How it was lit up at night

“The estuary scene is magnificent with two memorable engineering wonders spanning the Firth. It was a great challenge to add another, albeit wee, addition to this setting.

“We thought very hard about our response. The canopy took the form of a distorted crystal inclined to the rail bridge with a more than a nod to the North. We then fought very hard to see it realised well.

“Less than a year old, the canopy sadly became a very early and easy casualty of politics through tolls being scrapped by a new SNP administration. We are pretty sanguine about what we do as architects buildings are there to be useful. An unimaginative government felt it was useful to them at that moment that the canopy vanished.

“The canopy is featured in a Dutch publication, A10 New European Architecture, of current European works, a first for us. The canopy had actually gone by the time the publication came out who knows others may be bemused by its absence.

“They say that if you lose a leg that your senses tell you that it is still there. Now as I approach the Bridges I still smile as I travel under the spectre of its pure form. It’s even better at night when the lighting invades the crystal!!”