Urban Redevelopment of Chavasse Park Competition, Liverpool

This winning design for the RIBA and Liverpool City Council sponsored competition proposed that the city regain its streets and squares, with a new green Chavasse Park at its heart. The design included a landmark footbridge linking the city to the Albert Dock and a waterside boardwalk along the length of the Strand that would allow people to enjoy and get close to activities in the Salthouse Dock.

The design was based on allowing Liverpool’s lost streets to grow back, re-using where possible existing buildings, which would be creatively refurbished, to minimise the energy and waste of resources that would have been brought about by their wholesale demolition. The area would regain its permeability, re establishing links between the commercial centre and the waterfront that would revive commercial activity in Duke Street, and the Bluecoat Triangle.

Extensive ground modelling and soft landscape of the park would provide a place to sit outside, or lie on the grass, to enjoy a sunny lunchtime out-of-doors. Traffic controls and textured highway surfaces would make crossing The Strand to Albert Dock a positive experience for pedestrians, and make the link between city and waterfront explicit.