An international shortlist has been chosen to take part in a competition to develop proposals for the external spaces to the multi award-winning Imperial War Museum North (IWMN) in Manchester.  They are :

-  Kinnear Landscape Architects, London, UK

-  White Arkitekter AB, Goteborg, Sweden

-  Patel Taylor Architects, London, UK

-  Topotek 1, Berlin, Germany

-  Field Operations, New York, USA

IWMN is about people and their stories, about how lives have been and still are, shaped by war and conflict. The museum is located in Trafford in the rapidly developing Quays regeneration area, and the development of MediaCity:uk on the Quays provides the opportunity to capitalise on the international focus that will soon be on the area, and to create a distinctive destination and context for the museum.  

Following its announcement in September the competition attracted interest from all over the world, with 54 design teams applying to take part in the competition.

Jim Forrester, director of IWMN set the scene at the outset to the competition : "Our stunning Libeskind building continues to generate much interest and argument, and now, with the next phase of the Quays regeneration underway, we are ready to make more of its setting. The challenge is to make the outside areas of the museum as striking, memorable and rewarding as the building and its displays already are."

Maggie Mullan, RIBA Architectural Adviser to the competition said : "It was fantastic to get such international interest in this singular project. We are excited with the quality and range of teams we have shortlisted and we are looking forward to seeing their designs in the New Year". 

The teams attended a site visit this week and will now have until the middle of January to come up with their proposals. Once a final proposal is selected IWMN will begin the task of fundraising and seeking partners to help achieve the next step in making this important cultural site (opposite MediaCity and The Lowry) one of the most exciting visitor attractions in the country.