Successive generations of covered shopping give Livingston a modern commercial centre south of the Almond.
Quick facts
- Date
- First phase 1976 according to the operator; Elements extension opened 16 October 2008
- Architect / designer
- BDP: 2008 Elements extension; original phase authorship not established here
- Type
- Shopping centre developed in successive phases
- OS grid reference
- NT 05455 66696
Architecture and setting
The later Elements extension was designed as six buildings gathered beneath a transparent ETFE roof. Terracotta, stone and zinc help give its covered spaces the character of outdoor streets. The stepped central space and upper wintergarden made circulation and gathering part of the architectural composition, rather than treating the mall simply as a corridor of shopfronts.
Its story
The operator dates the first Almondvale phase to 1976. BDP’s published project account records the Elements extension opening on 16 October 2008, with the practice responsible for architecture, masterplanning, landscape and sustainability. The resulting complex therefore needs to be read in phases: the 2008 design does not describe all of the earlier centre.
Why it is included
Explains the commercial architecture of the planned town and the later remaking of its regional shopping centre.
What to look for
- The transparent roof over the Elements spaces
- Changes in materials and scale between shopping areas
- Connections between indoor routes and surrounding streets
Reading the surroundings
Use advertised public entrances during opening hours. Consult the operator for accessible routes and facilities; service yards and delivery areas are not public shortcuts.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The operator’s anniversary history gives 1976, whereas some historical accounts give 1977. This entry attributes the earlier date rather than silently treating the accounts as identical. Original-phase authorship and a full chronology of intermediate alterations remain to be established. Inclusion here does not imply statutory listing.
Sources & further reading
- The Centre: anniversary history — Operator’s account of first-phase opening in 1976.
- BDP project account, published by e-architect — Architect-supplied 2008 description, date, materials and design responsibilities.
- Trove: Livingston, Almondvale Centre — National archive identity and grid location.
- The Centre: visitor information — Current operation and visitor facilities.
Location
OS grid reference NT 05455 66696 · Location confidence: Trove NRHE275487 grid point converted to WGS84; locates the shopping complex, not a particular phase or accessible entrance. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
Suggest a marker correction
Suggest a more accurate position
The teal marker is the current published position. The orange marker starts slightly to its right so both remain visible; this is only a visual starting position. Tap the correct place on the map or drag the orange marker. Sending this form creates a private review entry only; it does not move the published marker.
Check this area in Google Maps Choose the Satellite layer there if useful.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. You can also enter checked coordinates below.