Now Royal Haskoning, an international firm of consulting engineers and environmental scientists, has invited Liverpool’s students to play a part in the rebirth of the resort, with their exciting £2,000 Design Competition.
Royal Haskoning, who recently opened its North West regional office in Liverpool, sees the student competition as a way of helping to celebrate the city’s year as European Capital of Culture.
As a major international organisation, Royal Haskoning is committed to innovation and sustainability so these elements play an important role in the design brief.
Engineering and architecture students from Liverpool John Moore’s and the University of Liverpool have until 30th June 2008 to register their intention to participate in the competition. They then have until 1st September to submit their own proposals to design a waterside landmark for New Brighton - such as a 21st Century replacement for the once popular Victorian Pier that was demolished some years ago.
Instead of a pier entrants may decide to design an imaginative scheme that celebrates New Brighton’s unique location as a resort on the River Mersey.
Either way, the designs must be economically sustainable and attractive for tourism investment in the surrounding area.
Royal Haskoning’s Director of Infrastructure and Building at the Liverpool office, David Ricketts said: “Of course the competition should not imply that the winning entries will be realised, though it will be most interesting to see how our planners and architects of the future view New Brighton.”
“Our independent panel of judges will pay particular attention to the following: Original, innovative concepts and ideas, sustainability, potential for tourism investment and the presentation and communication of the proposed designs.
“It is also important that our entrants take into account Neptune Developments' approved landside designs for New Brighton and that the River Mersey is a working river. The brief is broad to encourage creativity.”
A dedicated website
www.brightennewbrighton.co.uk has now been launched to host all information surrounding the competition, and students can register their participation by completing the online form.
Submissions will be judged by a panel of leading industry professionals before being exhibited in October 2008, after which the winning design will be announced.
The judging panel includes Belinda Irlam-Mowbray, RIBA’s Director for the North West. Rob Mason, Development Director for Neptune Developments Limited and Henry Rowe, Chartered Civil Engineer and main board director at Royal Haskoning.
The competition is being supported by The Liverpool Architectural Society.
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