Three sculpted towers sit on a prominent historic dockland site, shimmering with pinkish fins to echo the shifting reflections of the Royal Albert Docks, delivering 427 new waterfront homes
Project Information
Category
Residential / Developer
Location
Liverpool
Year
2022
Cost
Confidential
Client
Private
Architect
Ambient Studio & Edward Architecture
The site is located upon a prominent, historic dockland site on the outskirts of Liverpool City Centre, overlooking the River Mersey and straddling the trans-pennine river-front trail.
Two former dock inlets and a central man-made pier define the local riverscape, this informing the sculpting, planning and massing of a cluster of three new architectural towers, comprising residential and commercial units.
Each inlet gives rise to their own linear, yet radially curved building with a more prominent circular tower located upon the pier itself. The towers are further scupted to allow natural light to penetrate into the site, whilst allowing key views out across the riverfront.
Each tower is aesthetically elevated from the ground to create commercial space with active street frontage. Architecturally, this move is inspired by the permeability and elevation of the royal albert docks as experienced at street / water level, coupled with the desire to create a new vibrant waterside destination / community.
Further inspiration is taken from the Royal Albert Docks in the form of the facade design and architectural aesthetic. Vertical fins, pinkish in hue, are scattered across the facades in a seemingly random arrangment, this mimicking the shimmering appearance of the reflection of the Royal Albert Docks against the waterscape. Functionally, the fins create privacy, solar screening and wind protection, whilst also delivering depth, texture and contrast.
The towers range from 20, 26 and 31 floors to deliver 427 new waterfront homes, along with 11 new commercial units.
Two linear towers are arranged radially curving together, each aiming themselves towards the historic dock inlets to either side of the central pier, upon which a prominent circular tower sits.
The building massing is elevated from street level to create a permeable, glazed ground floor comprising double-height commercial units for active frontage and public engagement.
The architectural aesthetic is designed to echo the shimmering appearance of the pinkish red reflection of the Royal Albert Docks, as seen across the water.
Pinkish vertical fins appear scattered in a seamingly random arrangement across the facades, so to provide privacy, solar shading and wind screening to the glazed facades and recessed balconies behind.
