Can Shrewsbury’s negative relationship with the river Severn be restored by creating a new institution which interacts with the water and the Salopian residence?

Within the project, some key spaces have been selected. The function of these spaces is crucial to providing a successful architecture that aids the town.

The project sits along Smithfield road on the site of the old Smithfield cattle market. The project aims to create a dialogue between the university, river and town. An early design strategy was to prioritise pedestrians over traffic by turning a busy road into a public promenade and adding two new public squares. One square interacts with the river and the other with the town. There is also the addition of a new building for the town council, which will be shared by local trust groups that aid the community such as the canal river trust.

A new community building will be added that houses university functions, exhibition spaces and a new library that doubles as a vertical gallery, housing some of the historical artefacts from Shrewsburys rich history.

Section through library showing the vertical gallery.

Perspective from the towns square, looking towards the community building and library. (not final image)

Perspective from the towns square, looking towards the community building. Restricted views through the building to the university and river. (not final image)