York is creating a new public space. What is now the Castle Car Park and the green roundabout we call the Eye of York will become a part of York where we can come together. A new place to gather. A new place to spend time.
Imagine you are there in the future.
You might be watching the Foss go by and maybe even getting your feet wet!
You might take your lunch break here, perching on a sunny or shady step and biting into a sandwich.
You might be playfully running in and out of fountains – whatever age you are!
You might be opening your picnic and feeling welcome in the area without the pressure of spending money.
You might be navigating your way to and through the area easily and in ways that bring to life the layers of history in the area and its current and past setting within the city.
You might be thinking, or praying, facing Clifford’s Tower and quietly remembering the people who died in the place where you are sat.
You might be one of thousands of visitors each year making a pilgrimage to Clifford’s Tower, one of Yorkshire’s most important historic sites, which sits at the heart of the Castle Gateway Area
You might be crowding into the area on an evening to watch a play, hear music or see fireworks.
You might be planning a rally, a procession or a protest, gathering in the Eye of York where Yorkshire MPs were once elected.
You might be watching birds gather in a place rich with wildlife, enjoying the way the wild is part of the city centre.
The Open Brief brings the area to life. It evokes the different things people will be doing. From paddling to protesting and from listening to music to reflecting in peace. It then sets out the Design Challenges. The designers who are working with the council will start their response in the early summer. The designers will use this Open Brief and views and voices from other organisations who are based in the area as well as other practical and policy considerations to develop design ideas. Once the designers have developed their first ideas we will publish them for further discussion.