Old Market Square Nottingham, Design, Images, Architects, Award, Photo

Old Market Square Nottingham

Nottingham public space by Gustafson Porter, England, UK

26 Nov 2008

Old Market Square Nottingham Public Space

Old Market Square, Nottingham : Gustafson Porter Awards

16 Oct 2008

Gustafson Porter win inaugural RIBA/CABE award for Old Market Square, Nottingham
Gustafson Porter has won its eighth award for their £7 million transformation of Old Market Square in Nottingham after winning the first ever RIBA CABE Public Space Award. Announced on 11 October during Channel Four’s Stirling Prize ceremony in Liverpool, the award acknowledges the 11,500m² public square for its outstanding integration of functional design in a communal area.

photos © Gustafson Porter Ltd

Officially reopened on 03 April 2007, Old Market Square is not only one of the oldest public squares in the UK, but also the second largest after Trafalgar Square in London. The space has since hosted some of its largest events including free concerts, fireworks displays, a fine foods fair and a bulb and flower market. The events planned for the future include military displays, sporting events, a variety of markets and public health campaigns, culminating in a spectacular ice rink before Christmas.

2 Jun 2008

Nottingham Old Market Square Award

Gustafson Porter wins RIBA award for Old Market Square in Nottingham

Gustafson Porter’s transformation of Old Market Square in Nottingham has won its sixth award in the past year, with yesterday’s announcement of a prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) award. The awards recognise design excellence and built projects which make a significant contribution to the local environment.

photo © Gustafson Porter Ltd

The 11,500m² public square is one of the oldest in the UK and the second largest after Trafalgar Square in London. It was officially opened by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal on 03 April 2007.

The 2008 RIBA award in the East Midlands category is the latest in a string of awards for Gustafson Porter’s Old Market Square scheme which scooped three Civic Trust Awards in March this year, in addition to taking the top honour at Nottingham’s Lord Mayor’s Awards for Urban Design in last November and a Design Excellence Award at the 2007 East Midlands Property Awards in September. The project is now up for selection for the national RIBA Awards which culminates in the acclaimed Stirling Prize – the main event in the UK’s architectural awards calendar.

Gustafson Porter Director, Neil Porter, said, “The team here is extremely proud to be honoured in this way by the RIBA. Our aim with the design was to provide a relaxing and flexible space for everyday activities as well as an exciting destination for events and local markets. Crucially, we chose to reconcile the layout of the design with the classic formality of the Council House, which the original square didn’t do. The Old Market Square‘s wonderfully organic form now makes a people friendly space for users of all ages. Since it opened last year, the public’s positive response has been amazing and we are absolutely delighted.”

Councillor Alan Clark, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Regeneration at Nottingham City Council, commented, “It is wonderful that Old Market Square has won its sixth award since it opened last year. Gustafson Porter’s transformation of the square has brought the centre of the city back to life and provided a fantastic space for the people of Nottingham to enjoy.”

The RIBA East Midlands judges praised the, ‘fluid inviting public space. It allows the surrounding buildings both to complement each other and stand out for their architectural character.”

Previously:

Nottingham Old Market Square by Gustafson Porter

Gustafson Porter triumph at Nottingham’s Awards for Urban Design

photo: Dom Henry www.domhenry.com

Leading landscape architect Gustafson Porter scooped the top honours at Nottingham’s Lord Mayors Awards for Urban Design. Gustafson Porter’s £7million renewal of Old Market Square was lauded for its architectural brilliance and came top in the ‘Best Public Realm and Open Space’ category before walking off with the ‘Overall Winner’ award at a ceremony last night.

Gustafson Porter Director, Neil Porter said, “We are delighted by the reception which Old Market Square has received and immensely proud to be honoured in this way – the most rewarding aspect of creating new public space is to see people enjoying it, and to be given such an accolade is hugely gratifying. The volume of space is wonderfully organic and we had to reconcile that with the classic formality of the Council House, to create a relaxed space for informal daily activity. The original square didn’t do that.”

Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Nottingham Councillor Mohammed Munir said: “These awards aim to celebrate the finest design in Nottingham and the wonderful transformation of our Market Square richly deserves the highest praise. It is not only worthy due to the significance of the Square and the symbolic raising of standards in the public realm, but also due to the high quality of the project itself which is something which Nottingham will be proud of for generations to come.”

photo © Gustafson Porter Ltd

Sir Neil Cossons OBE, a former chairman of English Heritage, presented the awards which have seen an enormous rise in popularity since the ceremony was revived in 2005. The awards recognise outstanding contributions to new architecture in the city of Nottingham.

Gustafson Porter’s Nottingham scheme also won a Design Excellence Award at the 2007 East Midlands Property Awards in September.

Old Market Square Nottingham – General information
• Gustafson Porter’s design was chosen following an international design competition ‘Square One’ which received 200 entries from across the world.
• The new plans for Old Market Square were drawn up in 2004.
• The project started on-site in August 2005, following extensive consultations with the public, stakeholders, political and local interest groups, health and safety experts and the police.
• Over 6,000 tonnes of earth has been moved to level the square.
• Over 4,000 tonnes of concrete base slabs have been placed to provide a solid foundation.
• Over 6,000 metres of electric cabling has been laid to provide power for events.
• Over 10,000 square metres of new granite stone paving has been laid – an area bigger than a professional football pitch.
• A 4,400 square metre water feature has been built
• The old toilets now hold a water tank the size of a small swimming pool and a state-of-the-art control room for the technology behind the Square’s electricity and water supplies.
• 13 beautiful new Gingko Biloba and Pin Oak trees have been planted around the Square.
• Five lanterns, two flag poles from the former design have been lovingly refurbished and returned.
• Following the opening celebrations 800 new shrubs will be planted, as well as 4000 bulbs.

Old Market Square Nottingham – Credits
Landscape Architects: Gustafson Porter Ltd
Engineers: Arup
Contractor: Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd
Main square lighting: Speirs & Major Associates
Water terrace lighting: Group C Ltd
Water feature specialist: Ocmis
Pedestrian study: Space Syntax Ltd*
Conservation Consultant: Jules Renfrew Associates
Quantity Surveyors: Davis Langdon LLP

Old Market Square Nottingham designer : Gustafson Porter

Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK