The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Lighthouse girl would be swept away in market plan
Development: Street-art mural would vanish with ‘eyesore’ building
The flagship piece in Aberdeen’s street-art portfolio will be replaced if a developer’s plans to revamp the “eyesore” building on which it is painted are approved.
Rockspring, the owner of the former BHS store in Union Street and its adjoining indoor market, has tabled proposals to revitalise the properties.
The London-based developer wants to create space for new shops in
“Rockspring would be happy to engage with the Nuart artists”
Union Street and units to house offices, cafes and restaurants in Market Street and The Green.
In doing so, the developer says it will “greatly improve the surroundings” with a “successful piece of urban design”.
But it has confirmed that its vision will come at a price as it includes an overhaul of the external market wall.
It currently features a mural of a girl holding a lighthouse, painted for the 2017 Nuart festival by the German duo known as Herakut – Jasmin Siddiqui and Falk Lehmann. Rockspring director Shaun Hose wants a new piece installed if they have to remove or cover up the current artwork.
He said: “In the past two years the market building and the surrounding area has enjoyed a vibrant uplift due to the popular Nuart festival. We hope to build on this and see the area develop as an exciting location for businesses and residents as well as for local events, enhancing the vitality of the east end of Union Street.
“Rockspring would be happy to engage with the Nuart artists to see if we could incorporate similar art into our proposals for the regeneration, which would be in line with our aim to create an innovative architectural building and greatly improved surroundings.”
Adrian Watson, the chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “This fantastic mural has made a world of difference to the feel of The Green and brought a great many people down to this sometimes forgotten-about corner of our city.
“It really has helped to regenerate the area and that ultimately is what we are all about at Aberdeen Inspired. Rockspring have made it quite clear that the Herakut work was a catalyst for them to commit considerable funding into the city centre, which is much needed.”
A public exhibition on the proposals will be held at the former BHS store from noon-8pm on November 1.