This is a remarkable historic dock complex, designated a World Heritage Site, includes the largest brick warehouse in the world, as well as two buildings by Jessey Hartley of 1850.

Largely derelict for many years, the objective is to unlock the potential of this huge site, totalling over 2 million square feet of floor space, and stimulate the regeneration of the surrounding area of Northern Liverpool.

The strategy taken by thinkingspace in approaching this project is one of ‘preserve and enhance’, bringing new life to the area using modern design theory, construction techniques and methods. By extrapolating the language of the existing buildings, retaining the massive brick volumes and making interventions that do not diminish the grandeur of the site, the masterplan for the area intends to bring a 21st century sense of community and place to the monumental industrial architecture of the 19th century.

Central to the masterplan is the relationship between the buildings and the water. The ground level of the Tobacco Warehouse will be opened up to allow views of Stanley Dock from all areas of the site. Pontoons allow public access to the water level. A new landscaped park will contain large sail-like light reflectors to re-illuminate the dock and refer to its proud maritime past. Up to 1000 residential units, as well as commercial and leisure space, will be created in the existing warehouses on the site, with refurbishment and landscape improvements knitting this new neighbourhood into the surrounding city.