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FEATURE: PUBLIC REALM
Not so grim
UP NORTH
Public spaces are a crucial part of the planning and construction of shopping centres in
the UK. How do bigger schemes like Liverpool One manage public realm?
A
s green spaces get fewer and farther between, lost forever Added to this, listed buildings along Hanover Street and College
to make way for commercial and domestic buildings, public Lane needed to be retained creating design and construction
realm plays a more crucial role in the UK’s towns and cities. challenges. Furthermore, to ensure longevity it was essential the most
The public realm - which includes the streets and places of our high-quality, hard-wearing materials were used to ensure the public
urban centres - is an integral part of the civic experience, as well realm remained of a high quality for the foreseeable future.
as the buildings, structures and architectural monuments. The Liverpool One is an expansive, diverse space encompassing 1.4m
spaces between the buildings are dynamic elements that have sq ft of retail space, 230,000 sq ft of restaurants, cafes, bars, and a
a distinct and unique identity, whether they are spaces to move 14-screen Odeon cinema. Maintaining the public realm is no easy task
through, such as streets, or spaces to gather in, such as civic says Chris Bliss, estate director at Liverpool One.
squares. “The day-to-day upkeep in terms of the fabric of the public realm
For shopping centre developers, the public space is one is very intensive. It involves litter picking, sweeping, washing down and
component which needs careful consideration at all stages of planning polishing,” Bliss explains.
and development and, after construction, maintenance. And despite popular opinion, the processes involved in maintaining
For Grosvenor, developing and delivering premier league centre outside space are no less rigorous than those employed inside the
Liverpool One during 2008, Liverpool’s year as European Capital of mall itself, he says.
Culture, meant careful consideration of historical elements – The “It’s as difficult a task to keep in tip top condition as it is internally,
Paradise Street Development area falls partly within the conservation possibly more so. Items such as lighting and benches take quite a hard
area and is adjacent to a World Heritage Site. knock from the public using them and there is also the maintenance
SHOPPING CENTRE OCTOBER 2009 www.shopping-centre.co.uk
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