Background
He was born on 15 July 1790 in Russell Square, London, to James Playfair and Jessie Graham.
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William Playfair
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Education
The Playfair Project completed in 2004 joined the two historic buildings with an underground link.
Career
Two of his finest works are the neo-classical buildings of the National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy which are situated in the centre of Edinburgh. In the 1830s Playfair is listed as living at 17 Great Stuart Street on the prestigious Moray Estate in Edinburgh"s west education Playfair joined the Free Church following the Disruption of 1843, losing his right to burial in the parish churchyard.
Playfair took David Cousin under his wing and was responsible for the latter part of his training.
Playfair died in Edinburgh on 19 March 1857, and is buried in the "Lord"s Row" on the western wall of Edinburgh"s Dean Cemetery, where he designed a number of monuments for others, including Lord Jeffrey. 1817 Appointed architect to complete design work on the Old College, University of Edinburgh, on the basis of his proposals to complete the plans originated by Robert Adam.
The building was completed around 1831. 1818 Commissioned by the will of the late Captain John McNab to design Dollar Academy, where a building is now named after him
1820 Calton New Town, Edinburgh (includes Regent Terrace and Royal Terrace), completed only in 1860
circa 1820 City Observatory, Calton Hill
1821-1824 Royal Terrace, New Town, Edinburgh only completed in 1860
1822 Commissioned by the Institution for the Encouragement of Fine Arts in Scotland.
The building was opened in 1826 and is now the Royal Scottish Academy Building, Edinburgh
1823 Royal Circus, New Town, Edinburgh
1824 In collaboration with Charles Robert Cockerell, designed an exact replica of the Parthenon which was to be built on top of Calton Hill as the National Monument, Edinburgh.
However, due to lack of investment it was never finished and became known as Edinburgh"s Disgrace. 1825 Regent Terrace, New Town, Edinburgh
1827 - 1828 Street Stephen"s Church, Street Stephen"s Place, Silvermills, Edinburgh
1829 Drumbanagher House (demolished)
1830 - 1832 Foreign the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Surgeons" Hall, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh
1831 Dugald Stewart Monument, Calton Hill, Edinburgh
circa 1837 renovations to Floors Castle, outskirts of Kelso, Scottish Borders
1846 - 1850 New College, Edinburgh
August 30, 1850 Prince Albert laid the foundation stone of the National Gallery of Scotland. adjacent to The Royal Scottish Academy. 1851 Donaldson"s College, Edinburgh
1852 Dunstane House - now a Hotel in west of Edinburgh
1859 National Gallery of Scotland opened to the public two years after Playfair"s death.
