Liverpool waterfront: How shipping has shaped new homes

Liverpool’s iconic waterfront is undergoing a radical regeneration, with developers and architects of prominent residential schemes remaining true to the city’s character and history.

To coincide with a renaissance in shipping, your move looks at how the city’s maritime heritage has been retained and how it can be preserved amidst vast proposals slated for development in the years ahead.

Words by Matthew Smith

Liverpool’s reputation for once being among the world’s most important ports has influenced the design of the city’s waterfront buildings for centuries. The location gained recognition for its distinct heritage assets and historical character in 2004 when UNESCO granted it ‘World Heritage Site’ status as a Maritime Mercantile City.

The increase in residential developments in this area has coincided with a renaissance in the city’s shipping industry, leading to concerted efforts to retain shipping links, be it through appearance, materials used or original features.

Mann Island is just one site which has been the subject of such an approach.

Located within the World Heritage Site, the Mann Island buildings demonstrate how architect Broadway Malyan sensitively designed new structures around an existing set of historic landmarks.

The mixed-use angular development comprises 376 residential apartments and its black granite exterior reflects the Three Graces and the River Mersey, whilst its sharp corners resemble the acute shape of a ship’s bow.

The nautical-themed names of the Mann Island buildings also demonstrate how new developments have been influenced by shipping and navigation. The building adjacent to the Museum of Liverpool has been aptly named the Latitude Building and the structure with a view over Albert Dock is the Longitude Building.

Similarly, architect Brock Carmichael collaborated with concept architect Pelli Clarke Pelli to deliver One Park West. The £70 million residential anchor development is located between Grosvenor’s Liverpool ONE and The Strand, and bares a remarkable resemblance to a large vessel.

“The scale and form of One Park West was driven by the desire to form a restrained backdrop to the waterfront buildings and public spaces that did not distract from the prominence of the Three Graces within the World Heritage setting,” says Martin Watson, partner at Brock Carmichael.

Martin explains how the project delivered a “robust technical solution” to the challenges of combining the maritime environment with the requirements of a residential building.

“It is important to recognise and respect the importance of the historic setting, its scale, views, vistas and materiality.”

Although architects did not consciously attempt to mimic a ship’s shape, Martin indicates that initial plans sought to trace the edges of the elliptical park and The Strand by forming two separate buildings and an acute-angled exterior to bridge the gap between the past and the future.

“It is important to recognise and respect the importance of the historic setting, its scale, views, vistas and materiality,” says Martin.

“However, each new building needs to be assessed on its own merits within its context without having the need for an enforced solution. The significance of heritage becomes stronger when it’s not diluted by buildings that try to mimic or subtract from the context. It’s a careful balance.”

Another building which has been heavily influenced by shipping is Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) Architects’ Dazzle Ship inspired Unity Building. The tower’s exterior explores urban camouflage and can be considered an appropriate addition to the city’s skyline as many of these vessels were painted in Liverpool.

However, the industry has also had a more subtle influence.

“In our upcoming proposals we subtly echo patterns found in shipping, such as flags used for signalling,” explains Alastair Shepherd, director at Falconer Chester Hall which has worked on projects around the Baltic Triangle district and the £130m refurbishment and redevelopment of a Liverpool southern dockland site.

Small modifications, such as the use of maritime colours, can also help to give a building its unique individual character.

Alastair alludes to the columns at the historic Albert Dock as an example and indicates they have been painted with the same red oxide coating which is applied to a ship’s hull.

One current proposal which has gathered momentum is a newly approved 34-storey tower located on the spacious Princes Dock, which contrasts to the historic density further south. Designed by Falconer Chester Hall, the Moda Living and Apache Capital venture will be named ‘The Lexington, Liverpool’.

> Read more: Residential tower ‘The Lexington, Liverpool’ to be ‘major milestone’

Alastair explains that the residential block will reflect the city’s 20th Century transatlantic trade and travel links with a particular emphasis on the importance of the Cunard Line.

“We feel deeply about the waterfront and realise that to a certain degree we are tasked with being good stewards of Liverpool’s unique maritime buildings and spaces,” he says.

These developments are taking place within the wider context of Peel’s £5.5 billion Liverpool Waters regeneration scheme, which aims to transform a significant part of the waterfront.

To ensure shipping links are retained in many of the prominent private sector residential developments along the waterfront, various studies and surveys have been conducted.

Due to the nature and the scale of this wider regeneration scheme, consent was based on a Building Characterisation Precedent Public Realm Study and a detailed Cultural Heritage Baseline Study to ensure heritage is appropriately balanced with new scale and character for the future.

According to planning applications made to Sefton Council in 2012, the masterplan “takes advantage of the site’s cultural heritage to integrate it with the new development”.

“Liverpool Waters is a massive regeneration scheme and we wanted to attract multiple sectors, including maritime,” explains Ian Pollitt, assistant project director at Liverpool Waters.

 

 

The land and property giant intends to keep Princes Dock as a maritime hub due to the “well represented” and “growing” nature of the shipping sector.

“We are restoring and preserving the remaining docks and bringing them back into use to ensure they remain part of the current future vision of the project,” adds Ian.

Architects have also found significant value in salvaging authentic brickwork and in restoring shipping infrastructure from when the waterfront was originally an epicentre for global trade and commerce.

Harcourt Developments took on the vast Stanley Dock which saw the Titanic Hotel open in 2014. Extensive preparatory work continues on the second phase of the Dublin-based developers’ scheme, which will include 538 residential apartments at the derelict Tobacco Warehouse.

“Stanley Dock was clearly a strategic site in Liverpool and the quality of its design and standard of construction is also a reflection of the large and strategically important port,” says Joe Hynes, property executive at Harcourt Developments.

> First look: Tobacco Warehouse apartments

The Tobacco Warehouse was a direct result of the shipping industry, constructed with over 27 million bricks to make it the largest brick building in the world. Its 13 floors are each one hectare in size.

Joe explains how materials such as original exposed brick walls and concrete ceiling beams will be retained to reflect shipping links, and emphasises the importance of an appropriate balance to enhance the existing mercantile architecture.

“This is a key balancing act in the regeneration of Liverpool,” he says.

“The city is fortunate to have a multitude of enviable heritage assets. Tasteful and sensitively designed architecture will be key to retaining its shipping heritage.”