Cables Wynd House, which dates back to 1965, earned its nickname due to its distinctive curved shape.
It is now rated one of Scotland’s finest post-war buildings.
The “special architectural importance” of the block of flats – the childhood home of Simon “Sick Boy” Williamson in Trainspotting – was cited by Historic Environment Scotland in 2017 due to its “groundbreaking design”.
Now, the "Brutalist" building is rated alongside the likes of Edinburgh Castle, the Forth Road Bridge, the Royal Commonwealth Pool and the 1967 glasshouses at the Royal Botanic Garden.
Take a look through our picture gallery to see how the ‘banana flats’ have changed, and stayed the same, down the decades.
The “special architectural importance” of the block of flats – the childhood home of Simon “Sick Boy” Williamson in Trainspotting – was cited by Historic Environment Scotland in 2017 due to its “groundbreaking design”.
. Collage Maker-29-Nov-2022-08.21-AM.jpg
The 'banana flats' are rated alongside the likes of Edinburgh Castle, the Forth Road Bridge, the Royal Commonwealth Pool and the 1967 glasshouses at the Royal Botanic Garden. Photo: Third Party
. Banana flats
Cables Wynd House, better known as the Leith Banana Flats or as the Banana Block because of its curved shape, is a nine story local authority block in Leith, Edinburgh. Photo: Santiago Arribas Pena
. Aerial shot
View of the flats being built at Cables Wynd in Leith, May 1965 Photo: Aerial shot
9. Contains 212 flats
The nine storey building is home to 212 flats which, at the time they were built, offered families improvement over the overcrowding and slum housing conditions. 2015 Photo: Contains 212 flats
10. Brutalist architecture
In this picture you can see the front of the banana flats in all their brutalist glory, 2017 Photo: Brutalist architecture
11. Part of the skyline
The banana flats got their name due to their curved shape. This is a view of the nine storey building in 2018 Photo: Scott Louden