The Causey: transforming a place

Slideshow above: In 2007 we transformed the street for three days in an award-winning event. Inspired by this we held Ideas Workshops for our community to explore the area's history, examine the present road junction, and work together to imagine a better place.

Introduction

The Causey is a historic space in the busy University quarter at the heart of the southside of Edinburgh’s city centre. At the moment it’s a traffic island, and cars have taken over — but could it become a place full of life and people, buzzing with activity?

Following on from a successful temporary project that was part of the SIX CITIES Design Festival in May 2007 The Causey aims to make a permanent transformation of West Crosscauseway into a place for people.

The project is being led by The Causey Development Trust (formally the West Crosscauseway Association), a local community organisation that grew out of temporary 2007 event. The Causey engages with local people, works with professionals and partner organisations, considers the past, tries to understand the present and imagines the future of the place if it is freed from cars, re-designed and reclaimed for people.