The UK is home to some of the world’s most breath-taking statues, buildings and monuments. From London’s Tower Bridge to the UNESCO World Heritage Albert Dock in Liverpool, UK landmarks are iconic. What if they looked different? What if they were designed by famous artists, such as Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali and Leonardo Da Vinci? New images created by TransPennine Express have revealed how they might look.
Tower Bridge – London – Picasso
London’s Tower Bridge was designed by the architect Horace Jones, built over 125 years ago. It was designed to ease the traffic from the road whilst maintaining access to the Pool of London docks. The moveable roadways quickly became an important part of the city’s infrastructure, and today, it is a much-loved aspect of the central London aesthetic. In this reimagining, the Tower has been taken over by Picasso’s abstract style, with a touching tribute to the Union Jack flag in the centre, and plenty of eye-catching colour blocking.
Bullring – Birmingham – Gustav Klint
The Bullring in Birmingham is one of the UK’s shopping epicentres, housing internationally renowned brands inside its futuristic walls, which were redeveloped in 2003. But it could have looked quite different if it had been designed in the 1900s – particularly if it had been designed by the painter of the moment, Gustav Klint. Klint’s work was widely known for its symbolist nature, and this reimagining borrows from his ‘Golden Phase’, where much of his work used gold leaf.
Angel of the North – Gateshead – Da Vinci
The North East’s Angel of the North is an imposing structure – designed in 1998 as a tribute to the area’s industrial heritage. The angel’s body is based on a cast of the artist’s own body, but in this reimagining, it looks quite different, as it has been designed by the spearhead of the Renaissance period, Leonardo Da Vinci. Da Vinci was well known for his precise use of proportions within his artwork, and this image takes inspiration from his Vitruvian Man.
Edinburgh Castle – Edinburgh – Gaudi
Edinburgh Castle sits pretty on top of Castle Rock, welcoming visitors to the historic city. It is the home of many of Scotland’s important historical items, dating back to the 12th Century when it was first built. The castle is known for its distinctive walls, which are pretty much at one with the rock underneath. In this image, it has been designed by the Spanish genius Antoni Gaudi, most known for his Gothic masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia. His free-flowing style takes over the castle’s towers and walls.
Albert Dock – Liverpool – Andy Warhol
Liverpool’s Albert Dock is as much the heart of the city’s culture today as it was the global trading market back in the 19th century. Andy Warhol used mass culture as the inspiration for his art, so it was fitting to pair the two together in the reimagining. The design takes heed from his iconic ‘Campbell’s Soup Cans’ piece, using flamboyant pop art to transform the brickwork.
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