Aberdeen City Garden project

Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) is delighted to announce a two-stage competition to transform the centre of Aberdeen.

MRC is managing the competition on behalf of the Garden Project Management Board and has a dedicated competition website at:

www.malcolmreading.co.uk/architecturalcompetitions/citygarden

The six hectare site, which covers Union Terrace Gardens and the Denburn Valley dual carriageway and railway line, currently suffers from changes of level, poor access and circulation. It is under-used despite its huge potential as a green public-cultural space – adjacent to the historic spine of Union Street and at the very nub of the city.

The competition brief sets out the project’s aims – to improve street level access from areas of the city that are at present cut-off, to create new green gardens and landscaping, a civic space for outdoor events, a new cultural centre, a café quarter, new links with bus and railway stations, as well as, a new spatial relationship with the Green and Union Square.

Malcolm Reading, who previously ran the competitions for the V&A’s Exhibition Road site, the British Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010 and Glasgow School of Art commented:

“This a rare opportunity to re-design the centre of this eminent city, creating sparkling green public spaces and new routes, connecting areas that have become detached, and providing a place for fun outdoor events and exciting new cultural buildings.

“For any designer passionate about cities and how to make them inspiring and alive...well, this is a chance to make their name and reputation.”
Competitors have until June 13 2011 to enter the competition. Each team needs to be design-led and should include an urban designer, architect, structural, civil and services engineering, landscape architect and a cost consultant.

All entrants must follow the registration procedure as explained on the competition website.

From the responses a shortlist of five to seven will be chosen to work up concept propositions (for which an honorarium will be paid).

The shortlisted schemes will be reviewed by a technical panel and exhibited to the public in Aberdeen. A final Jury will conduct interviews to select a winning team.

The shortlist will be announced in the week beginning July 18 2011 and the winning team announced in mid-December 2011.

The City Garden Project will cost around £140 million. It is anticipated that half the money will come from the private sector and half from the funding mechanism known as Tax Incremental Finance.

In November 2008, Sir Ian Wood announced that he would pledge £50 million towards a transformational scheme to redevelop Union Terrace Gardens and the Denburn Valley. A number of schemes have been considered by the city before but have failed due to a lack of private sector funding.