A two-stage competition to transform the centre of Aberdeen has been announced

Aberdeen City Garden Project design competition launched

The competition is being managed by Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) on behalf of the City Garden Project Management Board and has a dedicated competition website.

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 states the project’s aims as: to improve street level access from areas of the city that are presently 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, 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.”

How it works

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 then 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.

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