As part of the renovation The Fruitmarket Gallery commissioned a new public installation by Turner-Prize winning artist Martin Creed. Haworth Tompkins worked with local architect Chris Bowes to restore the stone tower and developed the design and implementation of the artwork proposal to re-surface the steps with different and contrasting marbles from all over the world.

Creed describes the project, titled Work No.1059, as a microcosm of the world; stepping on the different marble steps is like walking through the world, the new staircase dramatising Edinburgh’s internationalism and contemporary significance while recognising and respecting its historical importance. This is both a typical Creed idea, involving as it does the direct engagement of the public in a work whose simplicity belies its conceptual and architectural complexity, and an appropriate response to the particular situation of the Steps.

The approach to carrying out the restoration project followed ICOMOS guidelines, the guidelines of the Burra Charter and Edinburgh World Heritage Policies. In addition to the steps, the conservation works included: structural repairs, masonry repairs, new leadwork to cornices, repairs and painting of iron grilles, cleaning of glazed bricks, installation of new iron gates and handrail and re-glazing of interior windows with an opaque toughened glass. Built into the fabric of Edinburgh, this new work engages audiences outside the gallery environment, becoming part of their everyday experience of navigating the city, challenging their expectations of performing the simple action of walking up or down a set of steps. The scheme has impacted very positively on the local community increasing access to art and volume of traffic to this historic thoroughfare, which provides a useful shortcut between the main railway station and the old town.