A stunning design feature at the entrance to the new Everton Stadium has been shown.
A spectacular design feature is intended to create an impression on the disused dock that has been converted into Everton Stadium. Vetter, a professional stone contractor and member of the Laing O’Rourke group of firms, has been painstakingly paving the 30,000m² fan plaza that will serve as the expansive entry to the Blues’ beautiful new home. However, the ancient dock walls will remain exposed as a plaza feature and a geographical tribute to the site’s rich legacy.
And within these dock walls, contrasting paving stone with blue glass will be set to replicate the reflection of water on the surface.
Gareth Jacques, project director at Laing O’Rourke, stated, “It was always intended to expose the dock wall, and the area inside these walls will be laid with blue glass Kellen blocks.”
“There are three sorts of blocks, each with a different amount of blue glass added during the manufacturing process. When the light shines on them, the design objective is for them to appear as shimmering water.
Work has begun on the second phase, which will be the culmination of a year-long project to granite pave the expansive plaza, which will be able to accommodate thousands of Everton fans on matchdays as well as non-matchday activities and concerts. The fan plaza is also dotted with heritage relics from the dock’s heyday, such as ancient railway tracks, capstans, mooring bollards, and cobblestones, which were common when Liverpool’s Docks controlled world trade.
Jacques continued, “The reason we had a 52-week schedule for the paving and hard landscaping was to allow us to establish the most effective sequence for all of the other external works activities taking place at the same time. This plan ensures that there is as little traffic as feasible on top of the end product. “We finished the south half of the fan plaza and placed the railway lines. Our specialist restorations team is also now filling the irregular granite stone surrounding the pedestrian gates, which will mix in seamlessly with the Grade II Listed wall once completed.
“When the whole fan plaza and restoration works are finished, I think the fans will have a truly unique and special entrance experience which complements this magnificent stadium.”