Riverside makeover planned for York (From York Press)
Get in touch: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting YORK to 80360 or send an email»
Riverside makeover planned for land around York’s Guildhall
9:44am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News
By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter
An international competition is to be held to discover ideas on how to make the most of of York’s Guildhall and riverside land when City of York Council moves out
AN INTERNATIONAL competition was launched today for ideas on how to make the most of York’s Guildhall and riverside land when City of York Council moves out.
City leaders are looking for innovative design proposals demonstrating potential future uses for the historic riverside complex and nearby boatyard.
Ideas include mooring Yorkboat craft on pontoons and creating a public open space on riverside land near Lendal Bridge, with a new walkway created to link Lendal Bridge with the Guildhall or even the Cityscreen cinema.
A timber building currently used for storage might also be replaced by a contemporary, attractive building which would complement the Guildhall, said David Warburton, head of Design Conservation and Sustainable Development at City of York Council.
The contest, run by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and sponsored by York Civic Trust and Yorkboat, is offering a first prize of £5,000 and another £7,000 in total for second, third, fourth and fifth prizes.
A judging panel appointed to choose the winner will include award-winning and nationally renowned architect Keith Williams, a RIBA adviser who will chair the jury panel, Coun Julie Gunnell, cabinet member for corporate services and Coun Dave Merrett, cabinet member for transport, planning and sustainability.
Darren Richardson, York’s newly appointed director of City and environmental services, and Mr Warburton will also be on the panel.
Coun Gunnell said the Guildhall and associated spaces were a significant part of York’s cultural and civic history, and the authority wanted to ensure it could continue to play a key role in the city in the future.
“Independent assessment of the site confirms that significant development and modernisation of elements of the complex will be necessary to make the most of the buildings and riverside area for the future,” she said.
Coun Merrett said he hoped that by inviting ideas from architectural practices across the world, the city would see the benefits that could be realised from a range of high quality and innovative options for the Guildhall and adjacent riverside towards Lendal Bridge.
Mr Williams said it was an ideas competition, but added: “Nevertheless, it represents an intriguing and testing challenge to architects to balance successfully the sensitive nature of York’s historic riverside with inspirational proposals that will show how this extraordinarily rich complex of buildings and spaces may be transformed.”
Some of the area where an iconic public building might be created is currently occupied by wooden storage huts.
Brian Clarke, managing director of Yorkboat, said it was great to get new ideas for this important part of the city. “This competition is a great idea and I am sure that it will generate some blue sky thinking, Yorkboat is delighted to be both a sponsor and a partner in this initiative.”
The competition submission deadline is Tuesday November 6 and the results will be announced early December.
For more details or to enter, go to architecture.com/competitions
Net cast wide for riverside ideas
A high-profile international search has begun for ideas on how to make the best use of York’s medieval Guildhall and the riverbank behind.
The city council launched its “open ideas” competition – which will be managed by the Royal Institute of British Architects – today.
Sponsored by York Civic Trust and Yorkboat – which operates a boatyard from the banks of the Ouse just upstream of the Guildhall – the competition is offering cash prizes to the architects or design teams who come up with the best ideas.
Entries will be judged by a panel which will be chaired by award-winning architect Keith Williams and will include senior York councillors and council staff. The brief has deliberately not been made too restrictive – the aim, says Yorkboat MD Brian Clarke, is to generate some “blue sky thinking”.
But The Press understands the range of ideas that might be considered include a new riverside walkway along the banks of the Ouse between the Guildhall and Lendal Bridge; mooring Yorkboat craft on pontoons and turning what is now the boatyard into public open space; and possibly replacing wooden sheds with a new building next to the Guildhall itself.
Whatever the ideas architects eventually come up with, we welcome the approach being taken by the council and its partners.
There has been talk of making better use of York’s riverside for decades. A successful scheme could transform the heart of York, and make this city even more exciting, vibrant and beautiful.
The city council’s impending move from the Guildhall into its new West Offices HQ offers the perfect opportunity for something new.
This is, of course, a hugely sensitive site. Any final scheme will have to recognise that. But fresh ideas are just what are needed at this stage.
Comments(42)
PinzaC55
says...
11:01am Tue 11 Sep 12
Alf Garnett
says...
11:57am Tue 11 Sep 12
Von_Dutch
says...
12:02pm Tue 11 Sep 12
MarkyMarkMark
says...
12:09pm Tue 11 Sep 12
captain nemo
says...
12:18pm Tue 11 Sep 12
RingoStarr
says...
12:31pm Tue 11 Sep 12
captain nemo wrote:Yeh, wots thiss awl abowt? I don unerstand wot awl the fuzz is abowt.
What about makin visitor moorings more secure than waisting money on crap.
Jackanory2
says...
12:33pm Tue 11 Sep 12
pedalling paul
says...
12:58pm Tue 11 Sep 12
pedalling paul
says...
12:58pm Tue 11 Sep 12
SteadyOn
says...
1:02pm Tue 11 Sep 12
pedalling paul wrote:Especially when it floods! Fingers crossed, eh Paul?
The vaulted area underneath would make a superb secure cycle park.
Jazzper
says...
1:03pm Tue 11 Sep 12
pedalling paul wrote:The nearby river would be ideal for you to jump in....
The vaulted area underneath would make a superb secure cycle park.
sheps lad
says...
1:22pm Tue 11 Sep 12
YorkPatrol
says...
1:40pm Tue 11 Sep 12
PinzaC55 wrote:Yes, like a riverside make over
How about leaving it alone and spending money on things that matter to people who live in York?
Sawday2
says...
1:51pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Mitny
says...
2:05pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Stupidyorkpeople
says...
2:46pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Great for a Party , conference , educational visits etc
Oncebitten
says...
3:10pm Tue 11 Sep 12
YorkShrimper
says...
4:08pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Oncebitten wrote:Stuck in the traffic as our roads are gridlocked....or maybe trying to cross our periously dangerous roads as the traffic rushes past at great speed. They could be shopping at Primark, but I like to think they are stood in Castleford wondering how on earth they ended up in such a ghost town.
Where are the Primark brigade when you need them :-)
YorkShrimper
says...
4:11pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Woody G Mellor
says...
4:24pm Tue 11 Sep 12
PinzaC55 wrote:Yaaaawn.
How about leaving it alone and spending money on things that matter to people who live in York?
Woody G Mellor
says...
4:26pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Garrowby Turnoff
says...
5:14pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Bearing that premise in mind, thank goodness Dyno Rod weren't co-sponsors.
AdrianlovesYorkMinster
says...
5:43pm Tue 11 Sep 12
franthom
says...
5:57pm Tue 11 Sep 12
) will be drawn away from Coney Street?
TheTruthHurts
says...
6:01pm Tue 11 Sep 12
sheps lad wrote:Or.... 'oh ha bl***y ha'
Stand by--TCH TCH only X bites!
Yorkie41
says...
6:52pm Tue 11 Sep 12
pedalling paul wrote:This area as I understand had somthing to do with Guy Fawkes, or was it Dick Turpin, one or other was soposed to have been smugled out that way on a boat.
The vaulted area underneath would make a superb secure cycle park.
PinzaC55
says...
7:05pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Von_Dutch wrote:Great idea! More opportunities for drunks to fall into the river = more stories for the Press.
I'm with Alf on this one - It matters to me and I also live in York. What would really make the riverside a glorious place and a tourist attraction in it's own right would be to somehow link Lendal Bridge to the existing balcony by City Screen, then to Ouse Bridge / Kings Staith. Create a timber boardwalk featuring interesting ironwork and lighting. I really think this would look visually stunning.
PinzaC55
says...
7:07pm Tue 11 Sep 12
YorkPatrol wrote:Or replacing the removed litter bins, or putting up new anti pigeon netting in the roof of the Rougier Street bus stops so that the pavement isn't covered in poop?
PinzaC55 wrote:Yes, like a riverside make over
How about leaving it alone and spending money on things that matter to people who live in York?
inthesticks
says...
9:54pm Tue 11 Sep 12
By 8pm they can still be drinking toxic levels of alcohol because the landlord will be able to flout the licensing law that is never enforced, of not serving alcohol to a person who is intoxicated. Then they can urinate all over the streets, breaking another law, they can stretch the limited resources of the police and end their night in the local NHS establishment being aggressive to the staff there and costing the NHS millions of pounds in the process. We are already experts at encouraging such classy establishments in York - and New Look must by quids in too.
YorkPatrol
says...
8:27am Wed 12 Sep 12
inthesticks wrote:Now that is a good idea!
Why not turn it all into a pub/club? Where thousands of young and not so young idiots can binge drink every weekend and create havoc. They can start at 11am Saturday and by mid afternoon can be shouting sexual obscenities in front of families with children trying to enjoy an afternoon out in the city. By 8pm they can still be drinking toxic levels of alcohol because the landlord will be able to flout the licensing law that is never enforced, of not serving alcohol to a person who is intoxicated. Then they can urinate all over the streets, breaking another law, they can stretch the limited resources of the police and end their night in the local NHS establishment being aggressive to the staff there and costing the NHS millions of pounds in the process. We are already experts at encouraging such classy establishments in York - and New Look must by quids in too.
More places to drink and smoke can only be a welcome development especially down my the riverside - the old Argos store would make an excellent location for a night club
Alf Garnett
says...
8:37am Wed 12 Sep 12
Stupidyorkpeople wrote:Hen parties forsooth ?
A VENUE - perfect for themed events - Medieval Banquets , Horror in the Dungeon etc .
Great for a Party , conference , educational visits etc
MrsHoney
says...
9:19am Wed 12 Sep 12
YorkPatrol
says...
1:58pm Wed 12 Sep 12
PinzaC55 wrote:Litter bins were removed from most city centres as people from other countries put bombs in them
YorkPatrol wrote:Or replacing the removed litter bins, or putting up new anti pigeon netting in the roof of the Rougier Street bus stops so that the pavement isn't covered in poop?PinzaC55 wrote: How about leaving it alone and spending money on things that matter to people who live in York?Yes, like a riverside make over
HPSauce
says...
2:34pm Wed 12 Sep 12
OR....the riverside boardwalk sounds absolutley stunning :)
Dennis.Dart
says...
6:33pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Yorkie41
says...
7:09pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Dennis.Dart wrote:Allways been the same round there Dennis, as all us lads from Margate and Queen Annes Road area will remember.
strange how once CyC get new offices at a over spend off six million they now want to spend more tax payers money on needless rubbish, parts that the river side needs attention never gets done, the foot path west side of the river north of scarbrough bridge is over run with silt from years of flooding, up to three feet deep with trees now growing out of the silt, CyC do nothing about this, year after year. they are babboons
PinzaC55
says...
11:55pm Wed 12 Sep 12
YorkPatrol wrote:Do you actually live here? The council removed litter bins to "save money" THIS YEAR!
PinzaC55 wrote:Litter bins were removed from most city centres as people from other countries put bombs in them
YorkPatrol wrote:Or replacing the removed litter bins, or putting up new anti pigeon netting in the roof of the Rougier Street bus stops so that the pavement isn't covered in poop?PinzaC55 wrote: How about leaving it alone and spending money on things that matter to people who live in York?Yes, like a riverside make over
http://www.yorkpress
.co.uk/features/read
ersletters/9905823.R
emoving_the_bins_is_
___false_economy___/
yorkie81
says...
8:22am Thu 13 Sep 12
meme
says...
1:07pm Thu 13 Sep 12
A walkway linking the 2 bridges..great idea but it needs to be used so needs cafe on it
Permenent houseboats moored to it fior people to live and provide life
How a bout a safe roped off swimming area off the walkway?
Water taxi drop off point
Ferry point to cross river
Make provision for cycles so they dont cycle down Coney st and have no excuse for doing so.
Floating stage for entertainment that can be seen from park on other side
Public stocks for councillors who are hopeless
Magicman!
says...
2:36am Fri 14 Sep 12
The floating walkway would have a height of just 1m from the water level (with a 5 knot speed restriction on the river meaning bow waves are unlikely), and access to the current City Screen boardwalk (and to Ouse bridge) could be achieved by a 'scissor like' ramp which would fold if the river level causes the floating walkway to rise.
Then a wider part of the walkway near to Lendal Bridge could have a cafe and kiosk next to a performance stage used by quality buskers and local bands.
Mr Trellis
says...
1:09am Tue 18 Sep 12
yorkie81 wrote:Shh! I dont think our bus driving council know the river is there. They certainly dont know it joins 2 major P&R's or how popular travelling into the city would be for tourists maybe they cant find any more consultants.
Living in Brisbane Australia, we have the CityCat. (Google it). It's a type of ferry service that runs like a train or bus service, transporting people too and from the city from the burbs. It's a great way to travel, fast and no traffic...York has a river large enough, they should use it to an advantage. It'll also take traffic off the roads.
capt spaulding says...
10:47am Tue 11 Sep 12
I hope our own nationally renowned award winning architect,
Mathew Laverack will be appointed to the panel. Probably invited and proposed by Cllr Dave Merritt and seconded by Cllr Tracie Liang-Simpson.
Hows that for Blue Sky thinking !!!