Aberdeen Shortlist announced

27/07/2011

The finalists for Aberdeen’s City Garden Project design competition have been revealed. Six teams have been selected to go on to the second stage after a unanimous vote by the jury panel.

The finalists are:

A mix of international and home-grown talent, the finalists have demonstrated a clear understanding of the ambition of the project and the need to design a unique public space embracing Aberdeen’s architectural and cultural heritage. Each of the collaborative teams are led by industry-acclaimed companies which have an impressive global track record, underpinned by a strong Scottish component across Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Sir Duncan Rice, former principal of the University of Aberdeen who chaired the jury panel, said: “That the competition attracted high-level interest from around the world is a great compliment to Aberdeen City and Shire. The jury agreed unanimously on the six finalists and is excited about the potential of their visions for the City Garden Project.”

The jury was extremely impressed with the creative minds and cutting-edge designs from previous projects that the teams had delivered. What made a particular impact on the jurors was the way in which many of the finalists addressed the garden and landscaping aspects of the project. They are now excited about the strengths and qualities each will bring to creating a vision for the City Garden Project that embraces Aberdeen’s success and international status.

Charles Landry, a cities’ guru on urban regeneration, and one of the jury panel said: “What was very notable about the finalists is that they are already actively involved in tackling similar challenges to those posed by the City Garden Project, and their submissions had drawn inspiration from the issues in Aberdeen. Many of the innovative projects that they have achieved in other places have not only captured the world’s eye and admiration but become much-loved and a source of pride for the respective local communities.

“As part of the selection process, it was important to have a balance of finalists capable of bringing an element of surprise. The finalists involve a mix of landscape design-led and urban-design-led teams who, through applying innovative thinking to how to make best use of civic space, have achieved remarkable success in regenerating once vibrant cities which have lost their charisma and cultural spirit.”

The International Design Competition attracted an impressive 55 submissions – involving in excess of 150 companies. More than 70% of these submissions involved collaborative efforts, whereby award-winning international teams joined forces with smaller specialised practices in a variety of fields and landscape architects.

Malcolm Reading said of the competition shortlist: “The sheer calibre of the finalists’ submissions was exceptional. At this stage of the competition we are selecting on capability and expertise. All of the finalists had assembled teams which draw in other skillsets and were able to demonstrate directly relevant experience of handling similar challenges around the world.

“In addition, the submissions involve highly-respected architects and landscape architects with experts in engineering and cost management disciplines, including project partners with Scottish offices and people. The depth of thought and consideration that was given to the local delivery of their proposals underlines a fundamental understanding of the project.”

The jury panel included: the deputy leader of Aberdeen City Council, John Stewart; Sir Ian Wood, Wood Family Trust ,Tom Smith, chairman of ACSEF; cities’ guru on urban regeneration, Charles Landry; Lavina Massie, former chair of both Aberdeen Civic Forum and the Aberdeen City Alliance; and Malcolm Reading, architect and heritage expert.

The finalists’ announcement concludes the competition’s first phase which was aimed at attracting technically competent and professional teams from all over the world to register their interest in the project.

As part of the second stage of the competition, the short-listed teams will be issued with a comprehensive brief and asked to produce a concept design. They will also be invited to a briefing session in Aberdeen arranged by Malcolm Reading Consultants. 

Concept design submissions will be made in September, following a concentrated eight-week design programme for the teams. This will be followed by a public exhibition of the six shortlisted designs at the end of September in Aberdeen.

The finalists’ concept designs will then be reviewed by a technical panel before the jury conducts interviews prior to a winner being announced at the end of the year. The city council will then decide if the design is to be taken to the planning stage.

The City Garden Project proposes a radical transformation of a key part of central Aberdeen to create a focal point that will provide a safe all-year round garden and civic space, by raising the inaccessible, under-used Union Terrace Gardens to cover the unattractive Denburn dual carriageway and adjacent railway line.

For general press enquiries about the project please contact Karen Grant on 01224 615009 or 07734 617 056 at The BIG Partnership.