The design for the Art Centre in the existing Union Terrace Gardens
This is Brisac Gonzalez’ design for a new centre for the Contemporary Arts in Union Terrace Gardens, housing Peacock Visual Arts and the city council’s Arts Education and Arts Development teams and Citymoves dance agency. The Art Centre sits against the existing slopes of the gardens, leaving the historic gardens mostly intact and reviving them at the same time.
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Compare The Square 
although the artist’s impression of how the square may end up looking is better than I imagined, I can’t understand why we need such a massive overhall and how we could justify spending such amounts of money. Bigger and swankier does not mean better. Let’s hope we actually get a good balanced input into this consultation. I am sure everyone has the best of intentions going into these projects, let’s just hope that we also have people involved who have some self honesty and can really examine their motives.
One of the good things about the lower level of the existing gardens is the sense of being out of the “retail hubbub” of the city. This single aspect of the design debate..whether to raise the level or not, is key to its success or failure in my mind. In a nutshell, raise it up and the garden becomes what? An agitated thoroughfare?
My vote supports the arts center and low level design.
I agree with these earlier posts – keep as much of the green and vista as possible – cover the road and railway if you like, reduce the jumpers from the bridges ! but lets enjoy the art and nature
Lets go with Peacocks Proposal, lets keep the green space and not cover this beatuiful part of Aberdeen with concrete ! The city cannot afford to lose such an iconic part of its Heritage .
I agree with posts above. Although not entirely convinced by the artist’s impression of the proposed arts centre from a design point of view I think they have the right intentions to regenerate the gardens with minimum impact and protection of most of the existing gardens. I think what is needed is perhaps simple ideas to encourage people into the gardens again such as markets, concerts, exhibitions etc….. this could be achieved by the introduction of a dedicated unobtrusive flexible space perhaps even linked somehow to the arts centre? I am also in support of retaining the low level design as posted above providing an escape from the “retail hubbub” and covering the road and railway.
Much better and more appealing than the other proposal. Green space is very important. I really like this idea.
Fantastic/inclusive and innovative use of the space, would be a great boon for the creativity/business/economy. Also looks great and fully support this
Keeping the angled, grassy gardens in Union Terrace in Aberdeen and having the Arts Centre with Cafe (so removing the ‘unsafe’ arches) looks great – I don’t see Edinburgh filling in their Princes St gardens! Let’s not waste money on filling it in. Will the Wood money be offered for whatever the city residents decide? If not, why not?
The design for the Peacocks art centre by Gonzalez’ is hands down the most sensible option. It’s INSANE to think otherwise. As an architecture student i am excited by the arts centre. Bring it on.
We need to get away from the idea that the only options for Union Terrace Gardens are Peacock’s plan or the City Square Project. There is of course another option which is to leave the gardens as they are and maintain them to a high standard, which is what I believe the majority of the people that live in Aberdeen want.
I am strongly against the City Square Project, although, at the same time, I believe it is inappropriate that Peacock Visual Arts should build their arts centre in Union Terrace Gardens. Union Terrace Gardens is the only green space in the city centre of Aberdeen and Peacock’s building would look out of hideously out of place and show little respect to the historic gardens.
I do not believe that any organisation has the right to compromise Union Terrace Gardens which is truly unique for Aberdeen and an asset to the city.
I am not against the gardens being used for temporary events such as concerts. My problem with Peacock’s proposal is that it is a step too far and too permanent.
Aren’t there already enough cafes within Aberdeen? Is it too much to ask for to have a place where we can go to get away from the relentless consumerism within the city centre?
The gardens have an enormous potential for development – as a garden – and the Peacock centre has practical use, looks great and barely impacts the garden space, which is very good for the citizen’s amenity, health and the public purse.
The idea of roofing over the City Glen is a nightmare. I have visited other cities with “grand” civic squares. Mostly they look awful, barren windy deserts surrounded by grand architecture, while sparsely peopled by a restless mix of puzzled folk and lonely pompous statues with nowhere else to go. How many rain shelters and burger stands are they planning I wonder? This is Scotland; keep our city’s wee green glen in its heart. Make it a place to escape the endless shopping round. DO NOT turn it into yet another shopping mall with a dank underground car park instead of another layered, high rise concrete monstrosity.
Union Street is a mess now because all the shops are in the new malls, or closing in one to open in another. What else did the planners expect? Fine by me, I hate shopping, but if only the planners had thought to make the beautiful old buildings of Union Street into Aberdeen’s culture, fashion and entertainment area; not just a place to get wellied on Friday nights or to hurry away from to the shops once you get off the bus. Union Street was built on bridges, a proud endeavour, and the wee glen is almost the last place to see and to understand that and to be proud of that heritage. Do not cover it over with more bland concrete; please think of the common good, not the commonplace.