Ocean Terminal is the heart of a major masterplanning and regeneration scheme for Edinburgh's redundant waterfront, with which Conran & Partners have been involved since its inception in 1995. The Royal Yacht Britannia is now permanently moored there.

Ocean Terminal is a buzzing commercial complex occupying the quayside of Edinburgh's Western Harbour. With its cosmopolitan mix of retailers, quayside restaurants, bars, cinemas and entertainment venues, providing 60,000 sq m of retail and leisure space, the project demonstrates a fresh approach to commercial development. A series of dramatic internal spaces include a three-storey rotunda and a grand hall overlooking the water. Shopping centres tend to be hermetic and inward-looking. Offering sweeping panoramic views of the Firth of Forth, the hills of Fife and Edinburgh skyline, Ocean Terminal makes use of its waterfront setting to create a series of flowing public spaces with a strong sense of place.

The 400-metre long three-storey steel-framed building is clad in terracotta tiles, granite, metal, glass and cast stone, materials designed to mellow with age. French limestone and wood floors give a sensual feel to the interior. A clear pattern of circulation adds to the sense of spaciousness provided by the views. Like a ship's hull, the building is long and low, while internal detailing such as canvas drapes and horizontal balustrading makes subtle reference to cruise liners, a response to context that avoids overt ‘theming’.

The practice led the design through concept development, feasibility studies, the detailed planning application and detailed design up to Stage E. The construction information and site works were led by Keppie Architects, Glasgow.

Conran & Partners also provided graphic design services in support of early marketing campaigns and eventually devised the visual identity for Ocean Terminal itself. The brand identity projects a young, contemporary image. Suggestive of wave patterns, the elegant tilde (~) that divides the words of the logo appears throughout the branding.