Leading Liverpool architects Broadway Malyan’s dramatic interpretation on welcoming visitors to a transformed Everton Park has won approval from experts and public alike.
Their proposed design for the park’s ‘Destination Hub’ beat off stiff competition from four other leading Liverpool-based architects, Austin Smith Lord, Cass Associates, FVMA and Studio Three, following a public consultation and an expert technical assessment.
The consultation event in February was attended by more than 120 residents and interested parties and provided an opportunity to offer their thoughts and debate the merits of the five very different depictions of the park’s future visitor experience.
The event, organised by economic development company Liverpool Vision, was chaired by its chief executive Max Steinberg who said: “This is a major milestone on Everton Park’s journey and their design will act as a spur to approaching funding bodies to help us start the project later this year.
“The high standard of each entry has reflected the significant role the Park has both for the locality and the city as a whole.
“It was a close run competition but Broadway Malyan’s stunning and innovative approach fit most perfectly with our ambition to make Everton Park a major tourist destination and a great community asset.”
Broadway Malyan’s design includes an information centre, event and gallery space and café and was deemed to make best use of the park’s unrivalled panoramic views of the city and the River Mersey.
Broadway Maylan’s director Matt Brook said: “This was an exciting project for us to work on and people clearly responded to the way we made use of the existing environment, especially the staggering views.
“We explored the notion of ‘reveal’ by combining the landscape with a linear east to west facing building so that the full panorama is concealed and only revealed once the visitor reaches the tip of the building, maximising the impact of the vista and enhancing the visitor experience.”
“We are delighted that we now have the chance to become part of the park’s rich heritage and we look forward to working with Liverpool Vision and the Friends of Everton Park on the next steps to realise the potential of one of the city’s best assets.”
The Everton Park Destination Hub is one of many initiatives taking place in the park, including a heritage trail and landscape based proposals from international artist Fritz Haeg and renowned landscape architect James Corner, which have been presented as part of Liverpool’s Biennial.
The Chair of the community group ‘Friends of Everton Park’, Paul Edwards, said: “We are working hard to craft a more exciting future for the park, which has been underused in the past.
“We are drawing inspiration from the atmosphere and function that Barcelona’s Parc Guell offers its visitors and this development is another step forward in us meeting that ambition.
“There is still much work to do. We are continuing to work through all the feedback and adapt the plans accordingly, but this design gives us a much clearer selling point when we approach funding partners.”
When finalised, Broadway Malyan’s design will be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund, for funding assessment.
