June 16 2023

The long-running renewal of Aberdeen Market has taken a fresh turn with the submission of a revised planning application by Halliday Fraser Munro.

Having discovered the foundations to be much more substantial than initially thought the team moved to reuse the below ground structure and floor slab, with knock-on effects to the original design.

These changes will be undertaken in tandem with the removal of a canopy over the outdoor market and a concrete frame of a former BHS department store at 91—93 Union Street, permitting a grander and more usable entrance space from the key thoroughfare, with access controlled by feature metal gates.

The volume of this hollowed-out space will be used to full effect with art installations rising through the full height of a processional mouth that leads by a bridge over East Green into the belly of the Market Hall.

Explaining the course correction the architects said: "During the demolition works, it was found that the original concrete slab was much thicker than anticipated. The intention is to now re-use this slab. The building grid has been adjusted to match the original column grid and the feature roof is no longer symmetrical. This has introduced a further dynamism into the form of the roof."

An outdoor events space following the outline of the original hall, as defined by feature 'totems' and ornamental planting, will front The Green, focussed on a curved LED screen sitting below the oversailing roof of the new market hall.  

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