Imperial War Museum North

RIBA has launched a new competition which will seek design proposals for the external spaces to the multi award-winning Imperial War Museum North in Manchester.

Following its announcement in September last year, the competition attracted interest from all over the world, with 54 design teams applying to take part in the competition.
 
Imperial War Museum North is about people and their stories, about how lives have been and still are, shaped by war and conflict.  The museum is located in Trafford in the rapidly developing Quays regeneration area, and with the development of MediaCity:uk on the Quays there is an opportunity to capitalise on the international focus that will soon be on the area and to create a distinctive destination and context for the museum. 
 
The external spaces at Imperial War Museum North must enhance the museum by reflecting its key message that war shapes lives, against its dramatic exterior, enhancing and expanding the visitor experience to beyond the walls of the internal spaces. There is an opportunity to do something dramatic and spectacular that will at the same time integrate with the extraordinary content and design of Libeskind’s iconic building.

An international shortlist has been chosen. They are:
 
• Kinnear Landscape Architects,
London, UK

• White Arkitekter AB,
Goteborg, Sweden

• Patel Taylor Architects,
London, UK

• Topotek 1,
Berlin, Germany

• Field Operations,
New York, USA
 
The final result will be revealed after a meeting on 28 April. Results and comments from the architects will be posted online after this date.