 |  | We approached local architect Adrian Baynes and asked him to respond to Coventry’s new development, Millennium Place and its associated Phoenix Initiative projects.
He wrote a description for us, below, and let rip with his own opinions in a follow-up feature, linked here.
First, the description:
Millennium Place description by local architect Adrian Baynes
|  | One of the newly created gardens, in Priory Place |
Finally the scaffolding is coming down and the artworks in Millennium Place are revealed.
Vivien Lovell of the now defunct Public Arts Commissioning Agency (PACA) masterminded the selection of the artists. How did she do?
Whispering voices
Artist David Ward has created a work using sound and light in Priory Cloister Garden.
Carefully detailed timber posts supporting speakers are positioned between the bleached lime trees.
The garden is most atmospheric at night, when it is bathed in blue light, whilst whispering voices drift between the trees with tales of Coventry past and present.
Through the water window
|  | Glass bridge and other Millennium Place features lit up at night |
Susanna Heron’s water-feature forms one edge of The Cloister.
Water falls down a reflective wall, forming a curtain across a steel faced opening into the cloister. Viewers can stand behind the water ‘window’ to see and be seen.
Kissing arches
MacCormac, Jameson, Pritchard the architect master planners also indulged themselves with The Whittle Arch.
|  | Close-up showing the construction of the arches |
Some 15m high and 65m in length, the aerofoil sectioned twin arches gently kiss against each other.
Clad in perforated stainless steel and dramatically illuminated, they also look best at night.
Glass snake bridge
Alexander Beleschenko, has regularly collaborated with Richard MacCormac and here has designed a glass bridge, slithering its way from the square up to The Garden of Friendship.
Blue filtered fluorescent lamps illuminate the curved glass balustrade, which from some views really does make the bridge look transparent.
Zigzag clock
|  | Illustration of The Millennium Clock |
Francoise Schein’s gigantic time zone clock, tic-tocks across Millennium Place in blue zigzags.
Sections flicker into life, to the consternation of pedestrians, who would be hard pressed to tell the time by it.
Curving bench
Jochen Gerz provides two works, the People's Bench forms a backdrop to the square, this comprises of a simple curving bench with a high concrete back, 'tiled' with plastic plaques.
These feature names and dates commemorating a "friendship, marriage, a spiritual, hidden or open relationship".
Glass obelisk
|  | Rainy-day view of the area's Priory Place |
Also by Jochen Gerz, The Future Monument, is an internally illuminated glass obelisk.
This will feature eight engraved glass plaques, showing wording generated in collaboration with local community groups.
Dramatic maze
Kate Whiteford has designed a planted box hedge maze, framed with white chippings, in the heart of the Garden of International Friendship.
This is dramatically bordered by a pierced sandstone wall, leading back to the glass bridge.
Archaeology mural
Chris Brown, a locally based artist, worked with the archaeological digs in Priory Garden to develop a mural work symbolising the growth of Coventry and perhaps "'coffers tree'.
Adrian Baynes' review of the project at large
Get more views from local architect Adrian Baynes, by following this link to his opinions page.
Also, let us know what you think by chatting on the message board.
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