CityLife

IWMN holds public consultation

IWMN

IMPERIAL War Museum North (IWMN) is inviting visitors' views on design proposals for its external spaces, which will be on display in the on-site Watershard Cafe between February 13 and 25.

Five potential ideas have been shortlisted and IWMN would like to find out what visitors think - before a panel of judges, some of whom will be representatives of the Royal Institute Of British Architects (RIBA), make the final decision.

The shortlisted architecture firms are Kinnear Landscape Architects (London), White Arkitekter AB (Goteborg, Sweden), Patel Taylor Associates (London), Topotek 1 (Berlin, Germany) and Field Operations (New York, USA).

"Our stunning Libeskind building continues to generate much interest and argument," says Jim Forrester, director of IWM North.

'Challenge'

"Now, with the next phase of the [Salford] Quays regeneration underway, we are ready to make more of its setting.

"The challenge is to make the outside areas of the museum as striking, memorable and rewarding as the building and its displays already are. To achieve this we are looking for remarkable designers with ideas which will give even more substance to our mission”.

Once a winning design is selected, IWMN will seek partners to complete the project and begin a series of fundraising activities. The museum hopes to complete the scheme in time for the opening of MediaCity:UK in 2011.

The design contest has been organised by the RIBA Competitions Office and, in September 2008, over 50 expressions of interest were received from architects and landscape architects.

Some submitted ideas have included outdoor trails; landscaped garden and play areas; and sensory and kinetic elements.

For more information, visit the link on the right.