The winning design - 'The Guardian of the City'
< The History of Nottingham's Old Market Square
Arriving in Old Market Square through the medieval streets of the city centre, this great public space gives a sense of release and of welcome. It is Nottingham's guardian space, a safe haven, a place to rest and regain energy, to wait and to meet friends. It's a place to be temporarily distracted from the routine of daily life, a place to enjoy spectacular cultural and civic events. It's at the strategic heart of Nottingham, it's the space that connects many parts of the city and it's a major pedestrian thoroughfare linking key city centre attractions and destinations.
We see opportunities to make even more of Old Market Square.
Our design draws together light, water and texture. Visitors are led to the water terraces at the north west end of the Square. Here one could sit on benches and terraces and rest amongst water or under the dappled light of the trees, this would be a quieter place to view the events and activities taking place in the heart of the Square.
Throughout the year, Long Row is in sunlight for most of the day. This makes the north side of the Square an excellent location for seating terraces. Long Row can become a promenade and great place for retail activity to spill out, especially once it is improved for pedestrians.
Replacing the sunken Processional Way through the Square with a more open and level space will create new pedestrian routes that will bring life to the very heart of the Square and allow space for rest and relaxation. Removing the walls and steps will provide more flexible arrangements for existing markets and events and will encourage many, many more.
The water terraces will be great fun; water will create reflecting pools, water falls and jet fountains that will be enchanting to watch. When switched off the terraces could be used as a stage or as a seating area for events held in the centre of the Square.
It is our ultimate aim to deliver a space that is not only fitting with Old Market Square's historical links and its stature as one of the largest public spaces in Britain but, with your help, is also one of the greatest in Europe and the wider world.
Neil Porter of Gustafson Porter
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