Weeks after the announcement that David Adjaye and Mariam Kamara would be leaving the project, National Museums Liverpool (NML) has unveiled its revised vision for the redevelopment of the city’s waterfront area co-authored by Asif Khan and Theaster Gates respectively.

Under their direction, a pair of interconnected proposals are now being advanced. The scope of the projects includes a newly-created public realm, pedestrian footbridge, and visitors’ pavilion in the place of two historic dry docks that are linked to the overhauled International Slavery Museum, Maritime Museum, and the Museum of Liverpool, which all tell their story.

The NML says it hopes the development will work to present a “prototype for a fresh new mode of co-production between community partners and museums.”

Khan says the project must in the end work to help the city reconcile its past history. The duo is joining with Plan A Consultants, Prior + Partners, The Place Bureau, Hara Design Institute, AKTII, Arup, Donald Insall Associates, and Bureau Veritas for the designs and will rely on the support of several local interests, including the Liverpool Black History Research Group and 20 Stories High, for input as how to best build a narrative with “great gravity sensitivity and authenticity.”

Adjaye Associates is currently wrapping up work on its portion, which completely reworks the Slavery and Maritime Museums into the center of the project’s £75 million ($92.4 million) narrative. The proposals will now undergo a public consultation phase that culminates on April 23rd. Planners are hopeful for construction to begin soon, aiming for a 2030 completion date to wrap up what NML says will be “a place of repair, warmth, wellbeing, and hope for coming together.” 

Additional details on the NML proposals can be found here.