For the first of Greenland Street's major annual architecture commissions, Bernd Truempler and Karsten Huneck from the Office for Subversive Architecture (OSA) have created an interesting, playful structure that inhabits the roof and one vertical side of The Blade Factory. It acts as a beacon to draw people from the surrounding area, linking the arts centre to the city, offering a space for talks, lectures and performances as well as a cafe and resting place on arrival.


Inspired by the huge regeneration of Liverpool and the immediate area around Greenland Street, the innovative temporary structure refers to the industrial heritage of The Blade Factory and other local buildings. It highlights the potential of the roof of The Blade Factory, which has fantastic views of the River Mersey and the city centre.


The project is a building as well as an outdoor installation, literally embracing The Blade Factory and connecting its roof with ground level. The structure appears to merge into The Blade Factory as the fabric of the existing building is incorporated within the new commission. It physically divides the roof into two spaces ('City' and 'Merseyside') but at the same time has a permeable facade that can be walked through.


Made from the type of PVC curtain used in modern factory buildings, an outer, white translucent layer protects the whole space against the weather; an inner red translucent layer adds thermal and noise protection to create a gathering space for lectures and talks.

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For the first of Greenland Street's major annual architecture commissions, Bernd Truempler and Karsten Huneck from the Office for Subversive Architecture (OSA) have created an interesting, playful structure that inhabits the roof and one vertical side of The Blade Factory. It acts as a beacon to draw people from the surrounding area, linking the arts centre to the city, offering a space for talks, lectures and performances as well as a cafe and resting place on arrival.


Inspired by the huge regeneration of Liverpool and the immediate area around Greenland Street, the innovative temporary structure refers to the industrial heritage of The Blade Factory and other local buildings. It highlights the potential of the roof of The Blade Factory, which has fantastic views of the River Mersey and the city centre.


The project is a building as well as an outdoor installation, literally embracing The Blade Factory and connecting its roof with ground level. The structure appears to merge into The Blade Factory as the fabric of the existing building is incorporated within the new commission. It physically divides the roof into two spaces ('City' and 'Merseyside') but at the same time has a permeable facade that can be walked through.


Made from the type of PVC curtain used in modern factory buildings, an outer, white translucent layer protects the whole space against the weather; an inner red translucent layer adds thermal and noise protection to create a gathering space for lectures and talks.