This proposal formed part of the 2020 Forgotten Spaces Design Charette held at RIBA North. The initiative by Paul Monaghan (Liverpool City Region Design Champion and director of AHMM) and Steve Rotherham (Mayor of Liverpool City Region) paired architects from around the country with a selection of regional sites in great need of rejuvenation and activation.
Our proposal for the empty site on Bebington Road draws from the diverse character of the neighbourhood to provide a step-by-step activation strategy, culminating in a multifunctional building.
The site has sat empty since a gas explosion in 2017 flattened the residential and retail block which stood there. The local community has expressed frustration with the lack of activity since, so the project seeks to rapidly establish new uses on and around the site as short and medium-term precursors to a permanent yet flexible building. Intrigued by the diversity of building types, materials and styles in the local area, we saw the lack of prevailing character as an opportunity for a new building that was collaged from many reference points.
Through research, we discovered a variety of valuable amenities which have been lost over time, such as housing, retail space, cultural venues, allotments and places to gather and play. Coupled with the local needs identified in the local regeneration plan, a clear wish list of uses and activities emerges.
A step-by-step approach enables immediate meanwhile activity on the site. Building on the energy of the existing street market, the proposal starts by establishing a community garden and business incubator space on the adjacent terrace gap.
A concrete platform is then erected on the primary site to provide an adaptable sheltered space that can host a range of uses including markets, events and business incubation, acting as a platform for activity. By alleviating pressure on the high street, this allows the refurbishment of empty shop units, which in time provide permanent locations for the incubated businesses.
Modular homes are then built above the platform to re-provide much needed housing. Eventually, the roof becomes a new home for the community garden, in turn freeing up the neighbouring terrace gap site for residential and retail development and establishing New Ferry Platform as a valuable local asset.
Client:
Liverpool City Region
Images:
Turner Works
