Alternatives for how the Harris revamp could look

Instead of knocking a hole through the front of the Harris Museum and Art Gallery wall here’s some alternative ways the museum could be revamped.

Preston City Council has tabled a £15million for re-imagining the Harris, including a new entrance into the Flag Market and reopening the Lancaster Road entrance.

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Student architects were commissioned to come up with other options – and these have now gone on display.

Organised by the Manchester School of Architecture lecturer Sally Stone the designs were a response to the criticism of the city council’s plans.

She said: “I noticed the criticism when the Harris circulated their early proposals publicly and immediately I thought: ‘That’s not very good – how can we persuade people to keep their mind on this?‘

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“One problem has been the diminishing use of the building and a consultation demonstrated that many local people found the Harris physically and emotionally intimidating.

“The feedback indicated that some felt that in its current state the building is not fit for the 21st Century.

“One of the important things is that there’s a huge podium. Yes, it’s a little bit brutal and is a little bit intimidating and things have to change but you don’t have to wreck the building to integrate that change.

“We said: there are alternate ways of doing this.”

Another design had columns scattered outside the building

Students spent a day touring the Harris Museum and Art Gallery after being invited in by Jon Finch, the man leading the project at the Harris.

He said: “”We are at an early stage of our design development and we are actively encouraging input and feedback on all aspects of the proposal.

“The input from Continuity in Architecture and from undergraduate architecture students from the School of Art, Design and Fashion at the University of Central Lancashire provide some very useful food for thought.”

You can see the full designs from the students in the Harris lobby.

What do you think of the students ideas? Let us know your views in the comments below