Williamson Square
Activating one of Liverpool’s most famous public spaces
In collaboration with HowarthTompkins, nd PLACED, The Williamson Square Activation Study represents a bold reimagining of one of Liverpool’s oldest and most historic civic spaces. By breaking down the complex urban environment into 12 essential 'ingredients'—including landscape, activity, seating, safety, and movement—layer.studio helped craft a comprehensive spatial framework designed to breathe life back into the city centre.
A Catalyst for Culture & Change
First laid out in 1745, Williamson Square is one of Liverpool’s oldest civic spaces, yet in recent years its role in the city's social life has significantly waned. Despite its prime location and its historic anchor—the Playhouse Theatre—the square has become a mere thoroughfare rather than a destination. Public engagement revealed a space that feels neglected, lacking in identity, greenery, and facilities, while struggling with disconnected transport routes and inactive building edges at night.
Williamson Square viewed from the Radio City Tower
Williamson Square sketch as Existing
The Playhouse Theatre and Radio City Tower
Our approach
The Williamson Square Activation Study represents a bold reimagining of one of Liverpool’s oldest and most historic civic spaces. By breaking down the complex urban environment into 12 essential 'ingredients'—including landscape, activity, seating, safety, and movement—w helped craft a comprehensive spatial framework designed to breathe life back into the city centre.
Understanding Place
The project successfully mapped out a strategy that balances the immediate needs of the community, such as climate-resilient green infrastructure and inclusive seating, with the long-term aspirations of cultural anchors like the Playhouse Theatre.
People-first Network
Through deep public engagement and strategic urban design, the study sets a new benchmark for a "people-first" city, aiming to transform a neglected square into a vibrant, safe, and welcoming cultural destination.
This is Just the Start...
While the Activation Study provides a robust and visionary roadmap, these initial concepts and proposed "quick wins"—such as repairing the beloved fountain, introducing temporary street art, and deploying pop-up greenery—are merely the first steps in a much larger journey.
Creating a Forest amongst Trees
The core challenge for us as urban designers was to reverse this decline in a post-pandemic landscape. We needed to balance the competing interests of a bustling retail core, a vibrant night-time economy, and a major transt network, while reinstating the square’s lost civic pride and addressing a stark lack of meaningful dwell space.
