ARCHITECTS behind structures including Kelvingrove Bandstand, the Shard and a Smithsonian museum are among those to make the shortlist to rebuild the Ross Bandstand in Edinburgh.
The competition to replace the iconic structure in West Princes Street Gardens with a new landmark pavilion has had 125 teams from 22 countries whittled down to seven finalists.
They will be invited to create the concept designs for the £25 million project brief, which includes a venue to replace the bandstand, a visitor centre and "subtle updates" to the gardens.
London-based Adjaye Associates, the firm behind the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington DC, the Danish BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, with significant projects including the Serpentine Pavilion 2016 and the Danish Maritime Museum, and Flanagan Lawrence, also of London, who collaborated on the design for the refurbishment of the Szczecin Amphitheatre in Poland are included.
Page Park Architects, described as one of Scotland's leading architectural practices and currently restoring the Mackintosh building for the Glasgow School of Art, were responsible for the refurbishment of Kelvingrove Bandstand and Amphitheatre in Glasgow.
Norway's Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter, who are behind the Romsdal Museum, and US-based wHY, an international collective involving architect Allan Cumming, Aaron Hicklin, Alison Watson, Peter Ross, Adrian Turpin and Beatrice Colin, has also been chosen.
The firm said wHY has assembled a team of "thought leaders and creative influencers, including engineers, designers, plant-lovers, graphic designers, writers, journalists, actors, artists, and activists who are passionate about Scotland and participating in the conversation for the future of the Ross Pavilion".
London-based William Matthews Associates and Sou Fujimoto Architects of Japan are also shortlisted together. Prior to establishing the firm William worked with Renzo Piano for 19 years, during which time he led the design team of the Shard in London.
Richard Lewis, Edinburgh's festivals champion, said: “The response to the competition’s first stage affirms the worldwide interest in Edinburgh and its association with the arts.”
Norman Springford, chairman of the Ross Development Trust and competition jury chair, said: “We were absolutely delighted by the response of designers from around the world to the competition’s first stage.
"The quality of the 125 teams on the long list sent a strong signal that the international design community regards this as an inspirational project for Edinburgh that has huge potential to reinvigorate this prestigious site.
"Now the teams will have 11 weeks to do their concept designs – and we’re looking forward to seeing these and sharing them with the public.”
Malcolm Reading, competition director, said: “This is an exceptional project – the interest from the website audience and the number of enquiries we received was far out of the ordinary.
"We appreciated the care and hard work that had gone into the submissions – to those who are disappointed not to make the shortlist, take heart: overall, the standard was very strong.”
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