Arcitect David Cousin, whose work had a wide-ranging influence on the country’s built environment
David Cousin (1809-1878) was an immensely versatile Victorian architect and town planner. As Edinburgh’s city architect he was responsible with his colleague John Lessels for redeveloping areas around the High Street. He created several large garden cemeteries, and built domestic and public buildings all over Scotland from the highlands to the borders. Arguably under-appreciated outside the world of architecture, he had a wide-ranging influence on the Scottish built environment, especially in Edinburgh. There, the impact of his buildings is sometimes only subconsciously perceptible to the casual observer. Yet his buildings, blending in with ancient streets, have helped to create the distinctive cityscape of Edinburgh, admired all over the world.
Family and early life