No small task – to design an icon for the “Fourth Grace” in Liverpool which at least in part should be self financing. This is the idea behind the competition which has selected four practices - Alsop Architects, Edward Cullinan Architects, Foster and Partners and Richard Rogers Parnership – launched by Liverpool Vision, the company responsible for the regeneration of the city which works alongside other organisations including the North West Economic Development Agency. In short, rather than a “simple” ideas competition a more realistic approach was preferred.

The four architects have proposed completely different schemes in terms of design, dimensions and level of public subsidy, put together consortiums which include property firms and set down financial plans, as well as taking on the design of the actual buildings. These have included private housing, offices, shops, hotels and other buildings as well as a hotel whose use is yet to be defined.

One of the most important aspects is the visual impact of the scheme and its effect on the skyline. So, many factors to consider in the development of the ideas, amongst the most difficult of these is the incorporation of a possible extension of the Manchester-Liverpool canal which is opposite the Three Graces and connects the South Dock, as well as the connection between the Liver, Cunard and Port of Liverpool buildings, which represent a vast commercial area.