The Fourth Grace was a planned development to be built on the

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

Pier Head The Pier Head (properly, George's Pier Head) is a riverside location in the city centre of Liverpool, England. It was part of the former Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was inscribed in 2004, but revoked in ...

, as a part of the Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008 bid. The project name was derived from its location adjacent to the three historic buildings at the Pier Head site, known as "the Three Graces". These are the

Port of Liverpool Building The Port of Liverpool Building (formerly Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Offices, more commonly known as the Dock Office) is a Grade II* listed building in Liverpool, England. It is located at the Pier Head and, along with the neighbouring Roya ...

, the

Cunard Building The Cunard Building is a Grade II* listed building in Liverpool, England. It is located at the Pier Head and along with the neighbouring Royal Liver Building and Port of Liverpool Building is one of Liverpool's ''Three Graces'', which line the ...

and the

Royal Liver Building The Royal Liver Building is a Grade I listed building in Liverpool, England. It is located at the Pier Head and along with the neighbouring Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building is one of Liverpool's '' Three Graces'', which line the ...

. Four proposals were submitted, all of which received criticism for their appearance and contrast to the city's famed historic skyline. * 'Fourth Grace Foster' (seen as one of the most likely developments for the site, and named after architects

Foster and Partners Foster + Partners is a British architectural, engineering, and integrated design practice founded in 1967 as Foster Associates by Norman Foster. It is the largest architectural firm in the UK with over 1,500 employees in 13 studios worldwide. ...

), comprised a triangular tower (which would have completely overshadowed the Three Graces), containing some 500 apartments alongside a 100-room 5-star hotel, and a block designed to resemble the hull of a ship extending out over the river. The development would have contained office space and a museum site. *'Fourth Grace Rogers', by the

Richard Rogers Partnership RSHP is a British architectural firm, founded in 1977 and previously known as the Richard Rogers Partnership which became Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. in 2007. The firm rebranded from Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners to simply RSHP on 30 Jun ...

, comprised two towers (1 and 2) of and respectively, and a mixed-use centre under an undulating roof. *'Fourth Grace 1 Cullinan', proposed by Edward Cullinan Architects, comprised two mixed use buildings, and a globe-shaped 1000-seat theatre. *'Fourth Grace Towers', a more conceptual design from architect firm Alsop, comprised a Zoomorphic style tower with residential, office and retail space, and a balloon-shaped structure (“the Cloud”) containing the museum site. Public consultation found the Cullinan design to be the favourite, while the Alsop design was the least popular amongst the public and in a survey of architects.'Amazing Grace'
at Skyscrapernews; retrieved 4 June 2017 Despite this, Alsop's 'Cloud' was the winning entry. However, it was beset with difficulties, and was cancelled in 2004 due to spiralling costs. Currently, it has been relocated to Toronto, Canada, where preliminary construction work is being undertaken. All ideas were eventually scrapped in favour of the Mann Island Development, comprising the new

Museum of Liverpool The Museum of Liverpool in Liverpool, England, tells the story of Liverpool and its people, and reflects the city's global significance. It opened 2011 as newest addition to the National Museums Liverpool group replacing the former Museum of L ...

, the

Liverpool Canal Link The Liverpool Canal Link is an English waterway link that connects the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, at the Liverpool Pier Head, to the city's South Docks. It cost £22m and was opened in March 2009. The new link adds of navigable waterway to t ...

, and three modernist mixed-use private enterprise blocks, the

Mann Island Buildings The Mann Island Buildings are a group of buildings in Liverpool, England. They comprise three international style mixed use buildings on Mann Island, which lies on the waterfront between the Port of Liverpool Building and the Albert Dock. No.1 ...

Notes

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External links

Fourth Grace favourite revealed. BBC News,6 Dec 2002Fourth Grace plans 'unworkable'. BBC News,19 July 2004
Proposed buildings and structures in Liverpool Unbuilt buildings and structures in the United Kingdom