The Great Pier

Year: 2017

Client: Yorkshire Artspace

Roll up! Roll up! The fascinating story of The Great Pier starts where the Great Castle of Sheffield once towered tall and the rivers Sheaf and Don collide. This is not one to miss!

This spectacular location, where archaeologists, artists, entrepreneurs and folk from all over the land thrill at what came before and anticipation of what’s yet to come. The reawakened Exchange Street buzzes with life once again on the street below, playing host to an abundance of creative enterprise and alternative endeavours. 

The Great Pier itself stretches above the castle ruins. Its majestic red ramps lead adventurers along a transformative journey. Journeying through time as you meander, a gaze through our telescopes will fracture the present, revealing Sheffield Castle, the archaeological dig and potential prospects. This magnificent contraption permits you to traverse time effortlessly, travelling through the past, present and future. On completion of your inquisitive voyage, The Great Pier’s familiar red spine leads you back to the lively milieu of Exchange Street where you can meet like-minded explorers for a drink or two back at Bal Fashions Speakeasy.

Our journey is just beginning on our quest for a greater Castlegate. How high it soars is up to you!

https://liveprojects.ssoa.info/2017/the-great-pier/

In collaboration with: Yorkshire Artspace, Bal Fashions Speakeasy and the Exchange Street Collective

Mentor: Bryan Davies

Students: Stella Xie, Yingran Qu, David Hodgson, Sacha Bennett-Ford, Evangeline Martin, Xiaoyu Jie, Liuqing Yang, Nicolas Heppner, Jianbin Zheng, Guan Yitong, Glenn Spidby, Samantha Mooney, Ellen Pierce, Jaimie Claydon

Continuing work through Live Works

Since the Live Project, Live Works continued to develop the detailed design of the Great Pier and gained planning permission for the structure in 2018. Construction didn't go ahead but the ideas that gave shape to the Pier - playfulness, animation and community engagement - are informing plans for future events and community facilities in the new castle park.