Two designs for Aberdeen's City Garden Project will face further scrutiny by the jury of an international contest organised by Malcolm Reading Consultants before a winner is chosen.

Six entries for the development were shortlisted earlier this year by the jury, which is chaired by the former principal of the University of Aberdeen, Sir Duncan Rice.

The designs that have been chosen to go forward to be "explored further" are Granite Web and Winter Garden, which were numbers one and two in a public exhibition respectively.

Malcolm Reading said: "This will allow the jury to crystallise their thoughts on each team's respective key features and provide a clearer basis for a final decision on an outright winner.

"This is not an unusual situation for such a complex design challenge. The jury is trying to fully understand all aspects of the two schemes and, in particular, to test the durability of the respective concepts.

City Garden Project management board chair John Stewart added: "It is anticipated that the design teams involved will come back to us in December with clarifications and that we will be able to make a final decision on the winner in January."

Image: The proposed Granite Web design