National Museum of Liverpool:
Waterfront Transformation

POoR worked alongside BIG, Harrison Stringfellow, JA Projects and Beyond The Box CIC on the National Museum Liverpool’s two-stage international placemaking competition to reimagine the city’s historic waterfront. For this project, the multidisciplinary team developed a public realm installation that acted as a cultural hub for community empowerment. The installation, titled Sankofa Docks, centered around construction, engagement and performance. The structure encouraged fruitful discussions about the history of the local area while referencing a dark history of bondage and restriction.

During this project, the temporary structure hosted a wealth of workshops which included a collaboration and commission with not-for-profit community interest company ‘Capoeira For All.’ The team also commissioned a local producer to work with Peter Adjaye to create a soundscape at the installation made from the voices of members of Liverpool’s Black community.

Client: National Museums of Liverpool
Location: Liverpool
Status: Completed 
Sector: Architecture 
Procurement: Private 
Team: POoR, BIG, JA Projects, Beyond The Box, Harrison Stringfellow, Peter Adjaye , CAVA Institute, Futurecity, LDA Design, AKT II, Hilson Moran, Gardiner & Theobald, Capoeira for All
Press: Architects Journal
Video: Sankofa Docks - National Museums of Liverpool