Asif Khan and Theaster Gates highlight the historic significance of the Liverpool Docks

In a global fabric that has largely altered itself to conform to the universal pigments of the contemporary, the underlying vestiges of history make cityscapes truly unique. Amidst the towering skyscrapers and immaculate glass facades that have now invaded skylines across the world, lie the historic nooks and crannies as unchanging, timeless reminders of the layers of the past that underpin the burgeoning present. Although these heritage sites are metaphorically inextricable from the urban landscape, how often are they physically and socially woven into one?

When speaking of Liverpool, England, it is almost impossible to not speak of its breathtaking waterfront—cloaked in both beauty and heritage. This complex site was home to Liverpool’s nautical history and has witnessed the city’s links to the transatlantic slave trade. Delving into these subdued stories, National Museums Liverpool recently came up with a 10-year plan to transform the city’s waterfront that encompasses the area between the Royal Albert Dock and Mann Island as well as all waterfront facilities. As part of the Waterfront Transformation Project, National Museums Liverpool now invites members of the public to view preliminary plans of how the public space at Canning Dock, designed by architect Asif Khan and artist Theaster Gates, will mutate. “I feel privileged to be working on this extraordinary project. To be sharing our design for Canning Dock today with Liverpool, we are also sharing an idea with the world,” says London-based architect Asif Khan. “It is an idea about how complex history can be told, the spaces in which we tell it, and the power it has to bring us together."

The tales of Liverpool's maritime history and its position in the trade of enslaved African people transcend the museums and galleries that delineate its waterfront. The urban development project will bring the  heritage of Canning Dock to the forefront while better connecting it with the International Slavery Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Museum of Liverpool which surround it. The site encapsulates the two Dry Docks at Canning Dock which are the oldest visible part of the Liverpool Docks. This site—which was used in the 18^th century to serve and repair ships including those used in the transatlantic slave trade—is reinvigorated through this project, setting a stage for enunciating Canning Dock’s role in the development of the city and much of the modern world. “The dry docks and quaysides have such a powerful heritage narrative, and throughout the process of co-production, we have ensured the feedback and ideas coming directly from our communities, is integrated into designs,” shares Liz Stewart, Canning Dock Lead for National Museums Liverpool. “There is such a long way to go in this process, but we hope through the public consultation, further feedback will help to inform the ongoing design development,” she adds.

The plans, that have now begun to unfold, consider how the public space design can serve the community better. This is to be achieved by establishing links to surrounding museums, and enhancing access, inclusion and delight for audiences while communicating with the past in a contemporary and impactful way. Recognising the key landmarks, Khan and Gates lead the design through a series of co-produced methods with community partners 20 Stories High, Squash and Writing on the Wall. The proposed plans are majorly split into three branches: introducing a pedestrian footbridge, evolution of the public realm and the South Dry Dock experience. “The opportunity to work on the Canning Docks project has allowed me to connect with the complexity of Liverpool and its history and to engage that history, knowing that there’s healing for the future,” Gates comments. “The community of creative organisations and individuals who have worked to make this project possible are the lifeblood of Liverpool. I am honoured to be a part of the national reconciliation happening on this site,” the American artist adds.

The Canning Dock project is contrived to respond to the unique history of the region—unearthing ways to invite people to initiate a dialogue with the history of the Liverpool waterfront in the public realm. Compelling interventions speak to the long history of the place and its centrality to the Liverpool docks. With the planned augmentations, the designers envision these public spaces as nerve centres of education and recreation—a space that welcomes all into the countless stories of the waterfront. "This is such a transformational project: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Working with local community arts organisations, we have a unique chance to really enhance people’s experience of this space," Stewart notes. “As well as creating an overall cohesive visitor experience, we are determined to truly represent the profound historic significance of the site,” she adds.

The proposed pedestrian bridge will connect the Royal Albert Dock with Canning Quayside, ensuring a better segue for visitors and improving the connectivity between the International Slavery Museum, the Maritime Museum, the Museum of Liverpool and the larger waterfront. The footbridge aims to open the site to new journeys and new uses. The plans also unveil the alluring proposals for the South Dry Dock reimagined by Khan and Gates in collaboration. The shimmering pyramidal pavilion involves creating an inimitable experience with a space in which contemplation and education are protagonists. This multipurpose space will be a 'destination' site that will muster voices from across Liverpool and its historic global footprint.

The waterfront intrinsic to Liverpool’s identity represents its umbilical ties to the past and the many stories which continue to be passed down to people around the world, even today. Through this transformation, the historic treasure trove withheld in the Canning Dock is bridged to its rather modern-day fragments—interweaving the surrounding museums with each other and their context. Prioritising partnership—amongst the design team as well as between the team and the community—the Waterfront Transformation Project is a celebration of uniqueness, working-class histories, community and collaboration. What is set to emerge is essentially an epitome of reconciliation with the past, an antiquity that can revive things as much as it can wash them away—and most importantly, narratives that animate lives and cities.