Piccadilly Gardens

To step into Piccadilly is to step into controversy. For the indoor shoppers who live in the Arndale or the Trafford Centre, Piccadilly probably is of little importance but it has been a focal point in the city for generations. It has changed a great deal in that time. At one time a huge hospital sat at this spot.  The Manchester Royal Infirmary occupied what was later to be a sunken garden.

When it was demolished the original plan was to build a new art gallery on the site.  Below you can see the model for that proposed gallery. 

It never came to fruition and in the end a sunken garden was created with a wide promenade around the statues.

Then in the 60s things really changed when the Piccadilly Plaza buildings were added. But it was the building of the office building in this picture and the removal of the gardens that caused consternation. Even this might have been acceptable had they not built the charmless concrete wall that divides the new "Gardens" from the busy bus and tram interchange. There seem to be few people who like the new Piccadilly and many who regard it as an eyesore!

The redevelopment of the gardens was paid for by the erection of the office building above. This building was justified not only because it raised the funds needed but because it cut traffic noise from the gardens. The design of the new gardens was drawn up by the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. People can make their own minds up as to whether it was an improvement. I know I've made up mine.