EXPLORING FESTIVAL GARDENS IN LIVERPOOL

I went to visit the Japanese Garden adjacent to my proposed site, the Festival Gardens Liverpool.

"A former household 'tip' located ajacent to the Mersey was transformed into the UK's first ever garden festival in 1984. The International Garden Festival was a concept deisgned to regenerate Liverpool and drive tourism following the huge industrial decline and Toxteth riots.

During a five month pageant, the Festival Gardens attracted some 3.4M visitors, with its huge mix of ornamental gardens from all over the world and the grand centrpiece, Festival Hall. When the festival was over, a large part of the gardens were redeveloped to form residential housing. The remaining gardens were left derelict and fell into disrepair in 1997. Redevelopment work took place in 2010 which means that the garden has once again been transformed into a beautiful space. The gardens are ideal for a picnic, bike ride or a relaxing walk through the woodland trails.

Look out in the gardens for two restored pagodas, the restored Moon Wall, new lakes, waterways and waterfalls and a new pedestrianised area linking to the promenade."

I have picked the former Festival Gardens site just south of Liverpool City centre because of its proximity to water and the neighbouring Japanese Gardens, this fits perfectly with the wellness concept of my project. In addition to this, there are direct links to the city centre and Liverpool John Lennon Airport. I believe the concept could be used in alternative cities as the fundamentals ideas of colour psychology, connection to nature and the five senses could easily translate.

https://www.visitliverpool.com/things-to-do/liverpool-festival-gardens-p294651