Theaster Gates and Asif Khan’s Canning Docks, Liverpool Transformation Receives Green Light

The Liverpool Docks will undergo a transformation led by artist Theaster Gates and architect Asif Khan, as part of the 10-year Waterfront Transformation Project spearheaded by National Museums Liverpool. The project aims to shed light on the docks’ complex history, which has ties to the transatlantic slave trade in the 18th century, while also enhancing the docks’ public space and accessibility.

The centrepiece of the transformation will be the rejuvenation of the two dry docks at Canning Dock, the oldest visible part of the docks. A new pedestrian footbridge between the Royal Albert Dock and Canning Dock will improve circulation and connect the docks to nearby cultural institutions such as the International Slavery Museum, Maritime Museum and Museum of Liverpool. The project will also feature a striking pyramidal pavilion designed by Gates and Khan, offering a sunlit space for contemplation and education.

Construction for the project is set to begin in Autumn 2024.