Hoskins Architects in collaboration with Snohetta, were one of six finalists selected for the international competition to transform the existing Victorian Union Terrace Gardens in order to create a landmark urban space for Aberdeen, including the provision of a cultural building, new green spaces, level access and place-making. The competition was carried out against a back drop of public consultation, presentations to the client body and key stakeholders. Our approach was to create a series of new flexible public spaces of varying scales; a commercial market square to the south, a cultural plaza bounded by His Majesty’s Theatre, the Art Gallery and our new cultural building to the north, linked by a new diagonal boulevard and series of terraced gardens. The terraces were designed to allow for connections to be made to retail and leisure courtyards from Belmont St, as well as direct links to car parking and the train station to the south, effectively allowing the gardens to be a new arrival point for visitors to the city.