Yvette Livesey and the late Anthony H Wiilson
A competition has been launched by the Landscape Institute for international architects and designers to create innovative public spaces in six Lancashire towns: Accrington, Bacup, Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe and Nelson.
Over 300 design practices have already requested the brief, which is available to download.
Pennine Lancashire Squared was proposed and named by Yvette Livesey and her late partner Anthony H Wilson. It was in their report 'Dreaming of Pennine Lancashire' that the two coined the term Pennine Lancashire for the old mill towns and outlined a competition with the intention of both attracting talent to the area and creating unique public spaces.
The competition will be run in two stages. In the first stage, competitors must express their initial ideas and interest and in the second, they will be required to develop these concepts. Each team must include a landscape architect, but may comprise of other professionals such as artists, cost consultants and engineers.
Stage one will be judged in September and up to five design teams will be shortlisted per site. The best teams will be paid honorariums to develop their ideas and in turn enter the second stage of the competition
The Landscape Institute will be running the competition as the regulatory body for landscape architecture. It will work alongside partners Elevate and PLLACE, an establishment consisting of Pennine Lancashire's Leaders and Chief Executives.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE Space) have endorsed the competition as well as Lancashire County Council. Funding was awarded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
