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As a national exhibition celebrates innovative architecture in Manchester, we take a look at some of the new buildings that are turning heads.
Twenty years ago, a young and unknown Ian Simpson was discovered as part of the 40 Under 40 exhibition and award scheme. Although the award did not get him any major projects, it gave him the confidence to set up his own practice and eventually become one of the country's most successful architects. Last month, Simpson was at Urbis, one of the stunning buildings he has designed for Manchester City Council, to congratulate the winners of this year's 40 Under 40.
Sponsored by steel company Corus, the exhibition celebrates the best of young architecture talent across the UK and features work by 40 architects all aged under 40. It first opened at London's V & A museum in June this year and is now touring the UK.
Three of the architectural practices featured in this year's exhibition have recently completed work in greater Manchester. FAT, Mueller Kneer and DSDHA proudly displayed work ranging from a warehouse redevelopment in Manchester City Centre to the creation of an imaginative nursery in Bury.
By winning a 40 Under 40 award, FAT, Mueller Kneer and DSDHA have added their names to a list that reads like a who's who in architecture - Will Alsop, David Chipperfield, Sunand Prasad and Ian Simpson are some of the previous winners.
The winners of this year's competition have also reinforced the view that architectural standards in Manchester are generally very high. But don't take our word for it, have a look around.
Great architecture is one of Manchester's main attractions, although it is often taken for granted by the people who live here. Beautiful Victorian buildings stand proud next to exciting contemporary ones, and this interesting mix of old and new attracts visitors from near and far.
In the last ten years, a number of iconic buildings have been created in greater Manchester, putting the county on the global architecture map. A good example is the Imperial War Museum North in Salford Quays, which is designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. Powerful, steely and cold, it brings home the stark realities of war.
Urbis is another imposing building, standing proud in Manchester city centre. Designed by Ian Simpson architects, it looks like a magnificent glass ski slope, reflecting the city back onto itself.
Ian Simpson Architects have also created the Beetham Tower, which is currently taking shape on Deansgate. The dramatic, 47-storey glass tower combines 219 apartments and penthouses, office space and a new five-star Hilton hotel.
Other impressive residential schemes include the NV Buildings in Salford Quays, designed by Broadway Malyan and Will Alsop's Chips in New Islington.
But the momentum is such in Manchester that you get the feeling the best is yet to come. And there is one building in particular that we have been keeping an eye on for some time, waiting for the scaffolding to come down. It is the Civil Justice Centre in Spinningfields, which looks spectacular on paper and which will hopefully shape up to be a major visual landmark in Manchester city centre. Designed by Australian architects Denton Corker Marshall, this will be the largest courthouse in England and Wales outside of London when it opens in 2007.
In ten years' time we may have landmark buildings by FAT, Mueller Kneer and DSDHA to add to our list.
Fashion Architecture Taste (FAT)
Sean Griffiths, Charles Holland and Sam Jacob from FAT (Fashion Architecture Taste) designed Woodward Place in East Manchester.
The social housing element of New Islington, one of the UK's most ambitious urban regeneration projects, Woodward Place will be home to 23 families.
The plan is the result of an extensive period of consultation with residents and takes into account their needs and aspirations. Colourful and bold, this is an innovative piece of contemporary architecture with flexible interiors.
The houses feature homework spaces for children, terraces, and open plan kitchen/dining spaces. Each home has its own front door, a garden with access via large patio doors and in-curtilage car parking. Residents can even choose to personalise their new homes with decorative balconies, bird boxes, hanging baskets and different colours.
"The design process involved a great amount of resident consultation," says Charles Holland. "We did a lot of workshops and exhibition work with residents and it was interesting to spend so much time with the people who are going to live in the properties.
"I like to think that the building is an unusual design. Some of it was driven by our interest in using decorative ornamental techniques in a quite contemporary way; some of it was driven by the need to make small houses look bigger and more dramatic; and some of it came as a result of our consultation with residents."
Mueller Kneer
Olaf Kneer and Marianne Mueller from Mueller Kneer fitted out part of the Grade II listed warehouse on Ducie Street into the stylish Cotton House, a cocktail bar and restaurant which opened to wide acclaim in February 2005.
The brief was to transform 800 m2 of the Victorian Old London Warehouse into a party space - a bar and dance floor, an 120-seater a-la-carte restaurant and a champagne bar/VIP lounge. Back of house functions such as a kitchen, stores, staff rooms and an office also had to be accommodated.
The architects divided the space into different 'quarters' or 'atmospheric units'. A key element in the design is the mysterious 'House within the House,' which is two storeys tall and has an almost black skin with different degrees of shine and diagonal patterning. This 'house' is cut several times to make an entrance to the kitchen or to accommodate the champagne bar. It accommodates all back-of-house functions while at the same time defining the different 'atmospheric quarters' around itself.
"The project was challenging because of the sheer size of open warehouse space we had to work with," says Olaf Kneer. "But by inserting the 'House within the House' we managed to structure the space, creating an interior urbanism. The champagne bar and all the back-of-house rooms are all contained in a single architectural element, which reveals red surfaces wherever it is cut."
Deborah Saunt and David Hills
Deborah Saunt and David Hills created the Hoyle Early Years Centre in Bury, Lancashire.
The initial design brief was to expand an existing nursery to provide an additional ten places for toddlers and deal with the shortcomings of the existing accommodation.
The original building was constructed in 1975, and had blocked a principle pedestrian route between the Chesham Fold Estate and the local park. The single storey building was set back from the road behind oppressive security fencing, and was dwarfed by both the surrounding two-storey housing, and adjacent distribution sheds. Despite the challenges, the design managed both to elevate the presence of the nursery and reinstate a visual connection to the park. The building has been used as an exemplar for the Sure Start Children's Centre Initiative and CABE.
"The building makes the best of where it is - it connects to the park, it has lots of sunshine and a wonderful garden, and it uses lovely natural materials," says Deborah Saunt. "Although it is first and foremost an imaginative space for children, it also benefits the wider community in Bury by improving the environment in the area.
"We took the roof off the old building and lifted it up to create a clerestory, letting the light in all the way round the edges. This improved the natural lighting and ventilation of the building, contributing to a sense of welfare for children."