AN ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOUR OF LIVERPOOL

The Pier Head has undergone many transformations in the last century, the most recent which is unchanged since 2008 is arguably the most extravagant and also successful to date.  Most notably the site now includes a canal link (an extension of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal), the total cost of construction was £15m while the cost of the public realm alone was £8m.1 

Although the area is most famous for the ‘Three Graces’[1] that overlook the Pier Head, the public space should contribute and enhance the overall area, which was one of the targets for the latest regeneration.  The Pier Head is also home to Liverpool’s ‘Mersey Ferry’ terminal of which the building has been redesigned on multiple occasions as well as the floating landing stage, on Liverpool’s 750th anniversary Bailey and Millington describe the triumph of the first floating landing stage at Pier Head: 

“The problem of embarking and disembarking passengers in such a difficult tidal estuary  was solved by the floating landing stage.  The original George’s Stage of 1847 was later merged in the great Prince’s Stage, some half mile in length, and supported on 200 pontoons.  This, “by far the greatest floating structure of its kind in the world,” was finally opened in 1876 after a disastrous fire in 1874.  Some 25 years later the present spacious Pier Head area was cleared by the filling in of the St. George’s Dock, and the imposing Dock Office, Cunard and Liver Buildings arose early in the new century to lend grandeur to the waterfront.” 2

Prior to this, in 1771, George’s Parade [2] was constructed which formed the entrance for the first landing stage to the ferry.3  At this time the Pier Head was not pedestrianised as Sharples explains:

“The Pier Head in the early c20 was a bustling interchange for trains, trams, ferry and ocean liners, and the buildings were conceived as landmarks, commanding attention and giving international travellers their first or last impression of the city.” 4

The next transformation noted at the Pier Head was the generation of a pedestrian area and a new ferry terminal building along with an overhead promenade [3], which gave excellent views of the river.5 There is also a bus station in front of the Royal Liver Building.  The next development [4] sees the urban space redesigned, the promenade and bus station removed, as well as an extension to the building facing the Cunard building. This building has since been replaced by the new ‘Mersey Ferries’ terminal building [6] which unfortunately won the Carbuncle Cup 6 in 2009,7 the current landing stage was installed in 2012 after unforeseen weather and tidal conditions sunk its predecessor [4] in March 2006.8  This building was erected at the same time as the latest Pier Head regeneration and canal link were installed [5]. 

Sharples explains Will Alsop’s Cloud 9 design was abandoned in 2004 and the growing concern of a canal link at the Pier Head: 

“Liverpool’s greatest public open space is now threatened by a proposed canal linking Prince’s Dock and Canning Dock, intended to slice through the Pier Head between fussily landscaped banks”10

AECOM Design + Planning were appointed as masterplanners and landscape architects for the project, much expectation is placed on the site Bayley explains: 

“The Pier Head, with its famous ‘Three Grace’ buildings, is the defining image of the city.  1.6ha, it forms one of the largest and most important city spaces at the heart of this World Heritage Site and Liverpool’s waterfront.” 11

 The architects delivered a high quality design including: 

“two sheltered canal side basins, which are flanked with granite seating walls, a central lawn, the replanting of Canada Boulevard and the creation of a large event space [8].  The area is paved in high quality granite and includes an innovative lighting scheme [7]” 12

The canal link extension cost £22m in total, including the cost of bridges and excavation for the canal stretching 1.5 miles from Prince’s Dock.13 The space has since proved it can be a successful venue for festivities on the waterfront, in 2008 it hosted the final event for Liverpool Capital of Culture with 35,000 people attending.14