ICE Arch Architects • Blog

This year saw the re-opening of the Mostyn Oriel Gallery in Llandudno.

The modern art gallery has had a £5.1m remodel funded by the Arts Council of Wales Lottery Funding, The Heritage Lottery Funding, The Welsh Assembly, Colwinston Charitable Trust and other sources, certainly money put to good use.  The listed building has retained its 1901 terracotta facade, however, the interior has been given a very contemporary remodel to give more exhibition space.  It is a successful integration of new and old.  The architectural detail is stunning.  The concrete capsule inserted into the old building is the centre of the circulation, beautifully modelled it ‘invites you in’.

Martin Barlow’s description of the gallery as ‘a vessel for art’ is certainly true.  It is a building flooded with light creating calm and atmospheric spaces.

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Described as “the most important development for Wirral since John Laird came to form his shipyard” by Birkenhead MP Frank Field I can’t wait to see how this develops.  The £4.5bn Wirral Waters scheme will transform the docklands area.

The outline planning application, which won unanimous backing from the council, will allow for the dockland area between Birkenhead and Wallasey to be developed by Peel Holdings (owners of Mersey Docks & Harbour Company and Liverpool John Lennon Airport, as well as their involvement in the Trafford Centre with Salford Quays) with a scheme they say will ‘rival waterfront developments across the globe’.  This 18m sq. ft regeneration scheme, which could take up to 40 years to fully complete, will certainly place a dramatic new panorama opposite the Liverpool Waterfront.

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If you are going to New York go and visit the new High Line Park (www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,29174701001_1910088,00.html).  My husband and friends, who visited, say it is an alternative way of viewing New York and an interesting piece of urban landscape architecture.  Not fully complete but worth a visit if you are there.

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