It's Centenary Square as you have never seen it before - five sets of proposals to drastically alter a prominent spot in Birmingham city centre.

The CGIs are part of a competition for the public space is now being launched through the Royal  Institute of British Architects (RIBA)  and the Landscape Institute on behalf of Birmingham City Council.

The Post reported in December that no less than 185 architects expressed an interest in taking part, and five CGIs have now been unveiled showing some of their ideas.

They are from Atkins, Barton Willmore, Broadway Malayan, Open Studio and Graeme Massie Architects.

Their designs will go before a judging panel in March 2015.

The aim is to find the right vision for an £8 million transformation of one of Birmingham's premier public spaces into a place where residents and visitors can meet, relax and socialise.

Named in 1989 to mark the centenary of Birmingham achieving city status in 1889, Centenary Square is home to a number of key buildings, including the Library of Birmingham, the Rep Theatre, the International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall, as well as a variety of statues and sculptures including Hall of Memory, recently awarded Grade I-listed status.

Funding for the competition and redevelopment of the Square has come via the enterprise zone initiative delivered by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.