THE cream of Britain's architects are bidding to design a heritage resource centre for a nationally important historic landscape.

Seventy three consultants expressed interest in designing a building for Hardwick Park, near Sedgefield, which is to be restored to its 18th Century splendour by Durham County Council.

A competition, organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on behalf of the county council, has whittled down the entrants to a shortlist of six, who have until November 22 to produce their designs.

An exhibition of their submissions will be held at County Hall, Durham, and in Sedgefield.

A judging panel, including an architectural advisor from RIBA, will select the winner in December.

The winner will then have to progress the design further, so that a detailed scheme can be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund by the end of January.

The six shortlisted firms are London-based Hoger Hare Architects, Design Engine Architects from Winchester, London Bloc Ltd and McDowell and Benedetti Architects from London, Reid Jubb Brown Partnership in collaboration with FAT from Newcastle, and Bennetts Associates from Edinburgh.

County Council leader, Councillor Ken Manton, said: "This is a unique opportunity to design an exciting and innovative new building that embodies the historic spirit of the park, while at the same time responding to the needs of today and our aspirations of the future."

Hardwick Park is a Grade II* listed landscape included on the Register of Parks and Gardens of National Importance.

The county council has successfully bid for support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and has already received £750,000, with another £4m to be released pending further development work.

It plans to carry out almost £5m worth of work in the first phase, between next year and 2006, including restoring the 17-acre main lake that disappeared 150 years ago and restoring the Temple of Minerva.

Other work includes restoring the gothic seat in its romantic setting of a grove of yew trees, restoring the tower of the gothic ruin to open up views across the park and restoring the circuit walk and grand terrace.

The long term aim is to raise the quality of the park so it becomes eligible for Grade I listing and attracts increasing numbers of visitors.