What 6 UK Cities Could Have Looked Like If Ambitious Architectural Plans Went Ahead
Cities are an inspiring playground for ambitious architects. But ambitious ideas come with hefty price-tags and there’s always a political story to negotiate, too. Often, the most exciting ideas for buildings, bridges, and towers make it no further than the blueprint stage. A creative team trawled the archives for forgotten ‘might-have-beens’ and used lost plans and schematics to bring unbuilt structures to life across some of the most famous cities in Britain.
What Bristol could have looked like
In 1864, Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge finally opened after 110 years of struggle. Bristol’s famous landmark could have looked very different.
What London could have looked like
Sir Misha Black and Hilton Wright’s design for London’s Royal Festival Hall would have dominated both the riverbank and the skyline, its imposing glazed spiral ramp leading to a 1500-ft high viewing platform across the city.
What Liverpool could have looked like
C.H.R. Bailey’s entry to the 1959 competition for Liverpool’s new cathedral looks like it was ripped from the film set of sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet, released just three years previously.
What Manchester could have looked like
The architecture of Piccadilly Gardens has long been a site of controversy for the people of Manchester. But few realize it could have been settled once and for all with the construction of an art gallery on the spot back in the 1930s.
What Newcastle could have looked like
In an effort to separate pedestrians from the modern blight of ubiquitous automobiles, Newcastle’s city planners looked up. Designs were drawn and work began on a system of overhead walkways between raised buildings.
What Edinburgh could have looked like
David Bryce’s 1862 sketch for a Memorial Keep in honour of Prince Albert would have been a major change to the city’s skyline. But Queen Victoria, Albert’s widow, disapproved of the construction, and the tower was never erected.