Cordelia is a design proposal by Amruth Mrityunjay that reimagines the Liverpool waterfront as a cultural and architectural landmark. Conceived as a theatre, gallery, and hotel complex, the project is unified by the theme of marionettes, drawing inspiration from the city’s historic connection to performance, storytelling, and large-scale public spectacles. Rather than simply creating a building, Amruth envisioned Cordelia as an experience, a place where architecture and performance merge to form an immersive civic destination.
At its core, Cordelia explores how architecture can embody movement, narrative, and memory. The design integrates elements of facade articulation and spatial choreography that echo the mechanics of marionettes, allowing the building to feel alive and responsive. Each program, from the theatre to the gallery and the hotel, is interwoven to create a continuous journey for visitors where spaces open, unfold, and transition like acts in a performance.
Cordelia also reflects Amruth’s commitment to vertical urban design, transforming the Liverpool waterfront into a layered cultural hub. The project demonstrates how tall, complex structures can serve as community anchors by accommodating diverse functions while reinforcing identity and place. Its ability to balance a strong conceptual narrative with technical and spatial resolution earned Amruth the Peel Group Award for Best Vertical Urban Design Project and a nomination for Best MArch Portfolio.
Through Cordelia, Amruth showcases his ability to merge storytelling, architectural form, and civic purpose. The project stands as both a personal exploration of architecture as theatre and a professional demonstration of design innovation at the urban scale.
