Reinstating a lost civic landmark on Liverpool’s iconic tunnel gateway

The Queensway Tunnel was a pioneering engineering achievement and a defining piece of civic infrastructure, with Rowse’s architecture uniting function and identity through an integrated composition of building façades, portals, pavilions, booths and monuments. The removal of the monument in the 1960s disrupted this composition, diminishing the architectural coherence and civic presence of the gateway. This project addresses that loss by restoring a missing element within a highly significant heritage setting.

The opportunity lay in reintroducing the monument within a fundamentally altered urban context shaped by flyovers, highway engineering and later regeneration. The design challenge required careful interpretation of the original layout and spatial relationships, particularly in establishing the monument’s position, orientation and relevance within a changed landscape.

The design approach re-establishes the original geometric framework of the toll plaza, reinstating the semicircular arc with two restored original toll booths and aligning the monument with adjacent architectural features. The proposal integrates high-quality materials, bronze detailing and contemporary construction techniques to achieve both durability and fidelity to the original design. The outcome restores a key component of Liverpool’s architectural heritage, enhancing the setting of the Grade II listed tunnel structures and contributing to wider regeneration of the William Brown Street Conservation Area.

Sustainability is embedded through durable materials with a 120-year design life, energy-efficient LED lighting, rationalisation of infrastructure and off-site tree replacement to support biodiversity.