Observatory plans go on Display

[jimmy]

Observatory plans go on display

The observatory will offer panoramic views of the river estuary
Designs for the proposed Mersey Observatory have gone on display.
The landmark structure will replace the existing radar tower at the mouth of the river near Crosby Beach, home to Anthony Gormley's Another Place.

Five shortlisted entries were chosen from 92 submitted by architects around the world and local people are now being asked for their views.

They will go on display at the Renew Rooms in Wood Street in Liverpool city centre and the Seacombe Ferry Terminal.

They can also be seen in Crosby Library until the end of the month.

The project is being led by the Mersey Basin Campaign and it is thought it will cost in the region of £11.5m.

Organisers say each of the designs offers "a very different but imaginative approach to making the most of the Crosby site's fabulous location and views".


We will have to live with it for much of our lives

Ian Hamilton Fazey, chairman of the Waterloo Residents' Association

They range from a V-shaped structure with a suspended viewing pod out over the River Mersey, to a wedge-shaped building extending out over the river that is inspired by a pier.

The other designs include a tower shaped like a table lamp, a weathered steel tower topped by a transparent viewing platform inspired by a lighthouse, and a structure with high piers over the river.

Ian Hamilton Fazey, chairman of the Waterloo Residents' Association, said: "We have five very interesting and very different designs. Whichever is chosen will dominate the entrance to the Mersey from Liverpool Bay for many decades.

"It will be a prominent feature from Formby to Ellesmere Port and will have an enormous visual impact."

"We will have to live with it for much of our lives. We don't want people moaning that no one gave them a say in what this important structure should look like.

"This is the opportunity for everyone to let the jury know what they think face-to-face and make their voices heard in the debate."

[shoney]

will this observatory be able to see thru clouds ( radio or whatever ) or is it just visual,

[Sean SE16]

umm, don't want to be picky.. oh go on then I will... but being proudly born and bred in Seaforth, I notice that Crosby and Waterloo are trying to muscle in on this one. I think you'll find, dear readers, that the Seaforth Radar station is, as the name suggests, in Seaforth. And that said observatory will also be in Seaforth.

And there endeth Double Geography for today!

Sean of Seaforth
(can't decide whether that makes me sound like a Knight of the Round Table or a hairdresser...)

[Kev]

Sean of Seaforth
(can't decide whether that makes me sound like a Knight of the Round Table or a hairdresser...)

lol, a warm welcome, I'm thinking hairdresser :PDT10:PDT11

Kev

[Longy]

First post I will say Hi in the right place I promise but I have found pics of these proposals

Pics are on the bbc liverpool site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/content/image_galleries/mersey_observatory_gallery.shtml?1


what do you all think.

Personally I think number 5 is the nicest and wouldn't itself block any views unlike some of the others.

And yes sean I have to agree its in Seaforth although the marina is in waterloo yet they call it crosby marina.

[Sean SE16]

Not sure which I'd choose really.

No.1 - its OK but doesn't do much for me.
No.2 - I'm strangly drawn to this, its got that industrial, crane like, vibe to it.
No.3 - looks like half of a bridge (wonder if they could build another one at New Brighton and have a beam of light between the two...).
No.4 - I don't like this one, looks like a specimen bottle.
No.5 - Yes, graceful looking, would look good.

A concern with 3 and 5 is they look very open and exposed - would people walk all the way along them on a cold rainy day.
1 and 2 (and 4 for that matter) look as if they would have some kind of enclosed area (cafe?), would this be better from a revenue earning point of view.

I haven't been in (up?) the Portsmouth Tower but sailing past it looks stunning at night and always seems to have plenty of visitors - although it is next to a shopping/leisure complex. The Seaforth one would be isolated to say the least. Perhaps it needs something else to draw people in - an offshoot of the Maritime Museum, somekind of sea-life centre, educational centre etc.

[SteH]

The Duggan Morris design (No4 - the specimen bottle) has won

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/03/17/11million-mersey-observatory-design-unveiled-64375-20633103/

[phredd]

I would go for number 4.
Will have some nice views over the bay and the city.
Phredd

[RoddersUK]

Here is a different view of the winning entry.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3108808

[Espresso Bar]

Any start date for this?

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/468xAny/l/k/v/tower_dusk_ready.jpg

[Harry]

I like this one the best and was glad it won.
I used to live in Seaforth myself at one time Sean, Poplar Grove off Elm Road.
Great days back in the 1980's.

[Sean SE16]

I didn't like it at first but I'm changing my mind the more I look at it. I'm just concerned that it will be a white elephant because of its location. It could be a huge attraction but it needs to marketed and used properly. How about getting a TV studio built into the design?, imagine something like BBC breakfast news coming live from that every morning! The view out to sea would be a dramatic backdrop to the nation's cornflakes.

[No-ones_Princess]

I think your right something needs to attract people other than views has a lovely Liverpool back drop not been done before and then moved to London??? So whilst I agree with your post I don't think a TV studio is really that interesting for the producers or indeed the public.

I would say a family spot may be an idea something for all the family I don't mean a theme park something that gets everyone involved from Great Granny to baby meggie. Or a sports venue for everyone to use?`What does the area lack?

[Sean SE16]

I agree a TV studio wouldn't be an attraction for the public, but what I was trying to suggest was something that would be a core revenue earner to keep it maintained.

Sports venue is a good idea, problem is what sport?, its a very exposed part of the coast for anything sea related, but the location does suggest something marine related which is why I suggested earlier about an offshoot of the Maritime Museum - perhaps looking at modern cargo handling (you'll have an excellent view over Seaforth dock; or navigation (again, a view over the approach channels).

[HollyBlack]

I agree a TV studio wouldn't be an attraction for the public, but what I was trying to suggest was something that would be a core revenue earner to keep it maintained. ... .They could easily build an indoor helter-skelter affair into the structure. Then eight year-olds would nag their parents to make a day trip there. Add an observation balcony designed with the convenience of photographers in mind. Coffee bar and toilets at the top. Add a toy museum and a pond for model ships at ground level. Bob's your uncle. No need to be over grand.

[No-ones_Princess]

They could easily build an indoor helter-skelter affair into the structure. Then eight year-olds would nag their parents to make a day trip there. Add an observation balcony designed with the convenience of photographers in mind. Coffee bar and toilets at the top. Add a toy museum and a pond for model ships at ground level. Bob's your uncle. No need to be over grand.

Its funny the oldfashioned pleasures is exactly what I was thinking :)

[naked lilac]

I didn't like it at first but I'm changing my mind the more I look at it. I'm just concerned that it will be a white elephant because of its location. It could be a huge attraction but it needs to marketed and used properly. How about getting a TV studio built into the design?, imagine something like BBC breakfast news coming live from that every morning! The view out to sea would be a dramatic backdrop to the nation's cornflakes.

I actually liked #5..very flowing (like a bird in motion), and not to obstructive in site.. This one that won.. reminds me of a flower vase..But, thats just ones opinion... and thusly, it did win..
I do agree with the TV News Idea.. excellant idea for one of the floors..Would be a great backdrop too..
The rest, maybe an aquarium of sorts enclosed inside? Along with eatteries, etc.. Hope it works out lovely for you there...:hug:

[Kev]

Nov 29 2008 by Paula Owens, Liverpool Daily Post

DOUBTS have arisen over a proposed ?11.6m landmark tower on Merseyside?s waterfront.

Plans to build an observatory overlooking Crosby marina may have fallen victim to the credit crunch, according to some of those involved in the scheme.

Although there is still great support for the project, two of the people involved claim the current economic climate is hindering progress and warn ?loans are not forthcoming at the moment?. But Walter Menzies, chairman of the steering group and chief executive of Mersey Basin Campaign, says the delay is simply due to finalising planning applications and a raft of other organisational details.

The 30m-high Mersey

Observatory would provide expansive views of Antony Gormley?s iron men, the working docks, Liverpool waterfront, the Mersey estuary and across to Wirral and North Wales.

A futuristic ?vase and bowl? design? was unveiled in March, after a competition saw London architects Duggan Morris beat off competition from almost 100 other entrants.

But since then little progress has been made.

And demolition of the old radar tower has been delayed around six months to some time this winter.

Ian Hamilton-Fazey, who is on the steering group for the project and chairman of Waterloo Residents Association, said: ?It?s a shame the work hasn?t got under way yet.

?The project has been given priority status by all those involved with it, but is being held up by the financial crisis.

?The Mersey Waterfront board has endorsed the observatory in terms of taking it to the next stage. It is a top priority and is safe in terms of pecking order.

?There are some practical problems ? until banks start lending money again, nothing can go forward. We need to be able to borrow on the strength of promised funding, but loans are not forthcoming at the moment.?

The main tower would feature a series of rotating ellipses towering 30 metres to the viewing deck. When viewed from the ground, it will glow like a table lamp at night.

A viewing platform would accommodate up to 200 people and a visitor centre would house an open-air amphitheatre, exhibition space and cafe.

Matthew Sutcliffe, spokesman for Mersey Basin Campaign ? which is spearheading the project ? said: ?We are very hopeful and the steering group is still in place. It is critical at this point to act. We have got some funding in place.

?It?s a shame we are unable to move at present but we are in the same situation as many other projects in the current economic climate.?

However, Mr Menzies, denies the hold-up is due to financial constraints.

He says work on a planning application is in the early stages and discussions with potential public and private funders are progressing well.

He added that work on major projects for Capital of Culture year have taken precedence over progressing the scheme and says the disused radar tower standing on the land, which is owned by Peel Ports, is expected to be demolished this winter.

He hopes to be able to open up the site to the public next spring. He said: ?We are hoping it will be possible to temporarily open up the site to give members of the public a sneak preview. Nobody?s been there for years and the views are truly spectacular.

?We haven?t been able to knock the existing tower down over summer as there was too much going on with the major canal extension that was taking place at the port.?

Planners are hoping to be able to erect information points during the public visits to stimulate further interest in the project.

The Mersey Observatory project is supported by Sefton Council, the Mersey Basin Campaign, Mersey Waterfront, Peel Ports, the North West Development Agency and Liverpool Biennial.

It will sit alongside the Sefton Water Centre, which is currently under construction.