Liverpool One

'The Paradise Project' aimed to redevelop a large section of underutilised land in Liverpool City Centre, beginning in 2008 during Liverpool's year of European Capital of Culture. A £500 million reconstruction meant that the 42 acres of land - previously consisting of a bus station, a car park and large areas of wasteland - has now become an economy-boosting retail led project, also including a huge leisure complex.


The design style of Liverpool One is much more modern than the rest of the city centre, with two floors of popular (mostly expensive) retail stores, and even outdoor escalators. It has recently been shortlisted for the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Stirling Prize 2009, the winner of which is to be announced in October 2009.

It's certainly an experience visiting Liverpool One, but I often wonder if it's really worth all the money that was spent on it. After all, the project has ensured duplication of many of the shops already existing in Liverpool City Centre, and has been criticised for alienating local business' (ie. Lewis' Department Store), and generally moving the location of Liverpool's central shopping district, creating empty units across the rest of Liverpool.

There's no question that the project has lifted Liverpool in the ranking of British retail destinations, however it's definitely caused a fall in the success of other businesses in the rest of the city centre. It's easy to see where the £500 million has been spent, but I'm not sure the simple - slightly tacky - Liverpool One logo reflects the project's high class and distinction.