Mersey Observatory designs - comments from Seacombe

Last night saw the final open forum session at the Mersey Observatory Design Competition exhibitions - this time at the Seacombe Ferry Terminal exhibition. Here are a selection of the opinions expressed on the night:

From Maria Checkland

Favourite is Ellis Williams traditional design with modern twist.  Wouldn’t be out of place is “Megastructures”  Looks like a world class observatory.  Links to transport, good access and well thought out.

Least favourite is Farrell and Clark – looks like a car park or power station.

Studio 8 is a nice design but not unique – similar to Marine Way Bridge in Southport.

Phos – a variation on the tall phallic buildings we are being subjected to by architects.

Duggan Morris – Conceptual design but I feel this would date.  In 20 years time this may be the kind of embarrassment the “sandcastle” in Liverpool is.

From Cllr Chris Blakeley

First choice = Duggan Morris whist initially looking like a jug, it appears to be the most pleasing to the eye.

Second choice = Ellis Williams.

The other three have no appeal to me at all.

The most important view should be from those people who have to live with the view [of the structure] all the time.

From Shulah Jones

After much pondering I definitely think the Duggan Morris proposal is particularly striking and yet not over imposing.  I like the way it appears to rise out of the water as a beacon.  It looks very striking illuminated in the diagram.  Would really act as an imposing gateway to the River Mersey.

From Ian Pettman

Duggan Morris is a quite an acceptable design.

Farrell and Clarke, Phos and Ellis Williams I feel would be eyesores.

Studio 8 is interesting but doesn’t look very practical.

Comments from anonymous contributor #1

Studio 8 – interesting shape but feel that it blends too much [into the landscape] and won’t be seen from across the river.

Duggan Morris – most favourite design.  Visually exciting, good facilities, stands out in the landscape without detracting, lots of viewing opportunities, innovative structure to be seen ay and night.

Farrell and Clarke – least favourite design.  Too severe in the landscape.  Appears to close in the space rather than open it up.

Phos – A bold statement but perhaps not sympathetic enough with the landscape.  Seems to limit views rather than open them out.

Ellis Williams – like the concept of recreating piers but this design seems too heavy and visually blends in too much.

Comments from anonymous contributor #2

Phos – did the architects only have a set square to design this with?

Studio 8 – is this physically stable in high wind.

Ellis Williams – perhaps too large or industrial looking for this site.

Farrell and Clarke – no.

Duggan and Morris – finally a proper observatory.

Comments from anonymous contributor #3

Studio 8 - Are they subliminally appealing for our approval by building a giant tick? The shape of it is very elegant but the size is way too big! I’m not even sure how visitors are supposed to use it.  I think the best views would be from a platform that’s too exposed to be used for most of the year.

Duggan Morris – Elegant, iconic and individualistic.  Of the shortlist this is my favourite – the only one I would travel to see.  My only concern is whether it is achievable and affordable (remember Will Alsop’s “Cloud”?).  This would also add an unmistakeable recognisable “Welcome to Merseyside” for liner passengers.

Farrell and Clarke – This is just ugly.  Merseyside has acquired more than enough brutalist slabs in recent years – please don’t build this.  The worst of the shortlist.  The view from the sea is reminiscent of dockyard cranes – functional and ugly. Liner passengers wouldn’t give it a second glance.

Phos – This looks like an odd collection of mismatched ideas.  How does a glazed garden sit on top of a rusty box?  It manages to combine an odd shape with a complete lack of character.  Weathered steel speaks of rust and industrial decline – welcome to Merseyside in the seventies!

Ellis Williams – I’ve seen this before – it’s a sculpture on a roundabout in Speke.  It may be the most practical of the shortlist – certainly the most accessible – but its appearance is bland and forgettable.  It is not an iconic gateway structure.  The views may be spectacular and accessible but the structure itself is not special enough to make people want to go there.

Have you seen the designs? What do you think? Which is your favourite? Leave a comment below.......

Comments

[Adam]

I just found out about this through reading in a national newspaper and then only by chance.

As a resident in the area this suprises me. What was the publicity or was it intended to keep this a secret know only to a few?

Not really sure what the consultation element is in this. The newspaper indicated that I could vote but this is a blog and I was unable to find any voting mechanisms....

[Uncle Frank, TCC]

When the final choice has been made and the structure completed, will there be a budget for security and maintenance and if so where will the funding come from? Whose responsibility will that be?

[Kate]

Re: Adam's comment...
We’re really sorry to hear that you’ve only just come across news of the proposed Mersey Observatory. The Observatory has been widely publicised and many people have already made comments on the short listed designs – something we’re delighted about. The fact that you heard about the Observatory in a national newspaper demonstrates how widely it’s been publicised.

A few brief pointers for you:
· Public consultation began at the earliest possible stage – before there was even a formal project - with presentations to the local residents association.
· Three exhibitions of the five short listed designs have been running in different locations around Liverpool and Wirral throughout February.
· Comments on the designs have been welcomed from the start and will be passed on to the judging panel for consideration when a winning design is selected in March.
· The Observatory will sit in a fabulous location offering panoramic views, and will complement the nearby Another Place statues and proposed Sefton Water Centre.
· Almost 100 pieces of publicity have taken up the Observatory story. These include significant coverage in the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo, an excellent series of the stories in the Crosby Herald, coverage in at least six other local papers, reports on BBC Radio Merseyside, many stories on websites, including the BBC news site, and coverage in architecture magazines.
· In addition, the story has been on regional TV at least nine times since December.

As you can see, the story in the Guardian was only the latest publicity (just to clarify, the Guardian got a bit confused over ‘votes’. Everyone is welcome to put forward their comments, but this is not the same as casting a vote – the expert judging panel will make the final decision).

The point, of course, is that the Observatory is something local people will have to live with. So it’s vitally important that they not just know about it, but also have a chance to comment on it. That, after all, is why it’s on this blog.

You can add your feedback by leaving a comment on this blog, by emailing it to directly to [email protected] or by visiting the exhibitions today (28th Feb) or tomorrow (29th Feb) at Crosby library, Seacombe Ferry Terminal or the Renew Rooms at 82 Wood Street, Liverpool city centre – all the exhibitions have comment cards that you can fill in and post into the collection boxes. All comments will be taken into account by the judging panel when they meet to select the winning design in mid-March. We will also be providing a blog about the judging day on here, with information about how the process happens, who’s involved, and feedback from the shortlisted teams once they have appeared before the judges.

[Kate]

Re: Uncle Frank's comment....

Once the decision is made, and the structure is built, there will be a special purpose vehicle established to own and operate the Observatory. It will be a not-for-profit body, and revenue generated by the Observatory will be fed straight back into its management, maintenance and security etc. The business plan that was created as part of the original feasibility study for the project included a significant element to cover the ongoing management and sustainability of the project. Hope that helps you.