New Islington [Archive] - SkyscraperCity

SleepyOne

December 14th, 2005, 12:02 AM

New Islington - An Overview

http://www.newislington.com/html/images/community/pic_community8.jpghttp://www.newislington.com/html/images/community/pic_community3.jpg

http://www.newislington.com/html/images/cunning/pic_cunning5.jpghttp://www.newislington.com/UPLOAD/images/NI_plan.jpg

1400 new homes
66 houses, 200 ground floor apartments
500 two & three storey appartments
600 1-2 bed apartments
34 urban barns
workshops
refurbishment of Ancoats hospital and Stubbs Mill
new office space

7 million gallons of new waterways
3000 metres of canal side
50 moorings for narrow boats + canal side facilities
12 bridges
3 giant canopies

urban amenities
10 new shops
2 pubs, 2 restaurants, cafés and bars
a metrolink stop in 10 min walking distance
new bus lines and bus stops
200 on-street and 1200 underground car parking spaces
a safe Old Mill street

1 million square feet of park and gardens
300 new trees
2 garden islands, an orchard, a beach
play areas and climbing rocks
secured courtyard gardens
private gardens and patios

community facilities
a primary school + play areas
a health centre with 8 GPs
2 workshops
a créche
an angling club and a village hall
a football pitch

sustainability agenda
boreholes will provide up to 25 l/s of naturally filtered water
central heat and power to generate 600kW electrical energy and 1000kW thermal energy
recycling collection points which allow occupants to recycle 50% of domestic waste

Ancoats Hospital Site

http://www.newislington.com/upload/images/hospital_01.jpghttp://www.newislington.com/upload/images/hospital_02.jpg

From the same architect who blessed the city with Urbis and No. 1 Deansgate come two fantastic new buildings. Big windows towards the light and beautiful timber shingles towards the wind should create buildings of quality.

Both buildings share details and appearance and flank the two sides of the private garden area for exclusive use by the residents of these two buildings.

A basement car park provides enough secure car storage to provide one to one parking.

Developer:
Urban Splash

Designer:
Ian Simpson Architects

Bascule Bridge

http://www.newislington.com/upload/images/chips_barn_bascale.jpg

If you want an indication of the scale of the new water coming to New Islington, take a look at the new Bascule Bridge near the Ashton Canal.

When New Islington is complete, this opening bridge will cross the point where water enters the development from the Ashton Canal.

Constructed in Summer 2004, this bridge represents the first piece in the canal jigsaw. There are lots more pieces to come!

Development platform provided by New East Manchester, supported by ERDF funding.

Designer:
Alsop Architects (Strategic Framework)
Martin Stockley Associates
C Spencer Limited

Chips

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http://tinypic.com/ilko0g.jpg

Just when you thought Manchester’s new apartment buildings were beginning to look the same, along comes ’Chips’, so called because it looks like chips on a plate.

Designed by Alsop Architects, who dreamed up the Strategic Framework for the whole of New Islington, Chips is one of the most significant buildings in the scheme.

Overlooking canals on both sides, with a restaurant at ground level, this is one of the best addresses in New Islington. Clad with warm timber panels and stamped with the names of places from where Manchester once imported tea, this is a building that will be famous as soon as it is built.

A basement car park provides enough secure car storage to provide one to one parking.

Developer:
Urban Splash

Designer:
Alsop Architects (Strategic Framework)

Cob O’ Coal Pub

The Cob O’ Coal Pub has stood on this site for years. The people of Ancoats have drank there since the industrial revolution provided them with the chance to lead the world, more recently, dying industry and failing housing has made it more useful for drowning sorrows... but Ancoats is back and we think the Cob O’ Coal should be given the chance to thrive again.

We, unusually, agree with Prince Charles - that the pub is the hub (a bit of clunky shorthand but you get the drift). Good pubs are essential to great placemaking. We want to put a good pub in this great place.

The Cob O’ Coal has roots. We want to breath a new lease of life into it. It’s retention is as much symbolic as anything else and we want it to be a watering hole which is a central focus for the community.

Developer:
To be confirmed

Designer:
To be confirmed

Health Centre

http://www.stephenson-bell.com/web-data/Components/70303.jpg

A good community includes everyone from baby to Grandma. These people need looking after. New Islington will therefore include a health centre. Not just an ordinary health centre, but a shiny new one, with lots of community health needs accommodated under one roof.

We’ve located it on one of the best plots in the development. On Old Mill Street to ease access, but looking out over the new water and park. We hope you will start to feel better as soon as you walk through the door!

Developer:
NHS LIFT

Designer:
Stephenson Bell

Old Mill Street

http://www.newislington.com/upload/images/NI_AGrant_1.jpghttp://www.newislington.com/upload/images/oldmillstreet1.jpg

Old Mill Street is the ‘marketplace’ of New Islington. It is where a lot of the local shops will be and the window into the village for passers by.

We have therefore planned radical changes to this existing street. It’s going to be much wider, but not for the reason that roads are usually widened. We want it to be a pleasant space to walk or cycle through, so we’ve made more space for these people. Cars have enough space already.

Old Mill Street links the different New Islington spaces - the park, the water, the local shops. We’ve therefore given it a different feel in different places. Some of our ideas are new, others are taken from roads which we like in other places. The important thing is that they all work together to create a space that is pleasant to spend time in - rare for a city street!

Old Mill Street is where all the shops will be that you’d expect to find in your local community. The chippy, the newsagent, the laundrette, the greengrocer, the betting shop, the off licence, the post office.

We want to make sure that all these shops are the best they can possibly be, so when they’re ready we’re going to make sure that the best chippy in the country takes space there.

We’re going to offer one of the retail units 3 with 3 years rent free to the winner of the sea food fisheries award for the country’s best fish and chip shop - that way New Islington become synonymous with the best - the best design, the best architecture, the best community... and the best chippy.

Development platform provided by
English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency.

English Partnerships’ aim is to deliver high quality, sustainable growth in England. It does this by:

Developing it’s portfolio of strategic sites

Acting as the government’s specialist advisor on brownfield land

Ensuring that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider government objectives, especially those contained in the Sustainable Communities Plan

Helping to create communities where people can afford to live and want to live

Supporting the urban renaissance by improving the quality of our towns and cities.

Designer:
Martin Stockley Associates
Grant Associates

Park

http://www.newislington.com/html/images/green/pic_green6.jpghttp://www.newislington.com/html/images/green/pic_green5.jpg

It may be convenient living so close to Toys R Us, but we appreciate that people don’t necessarily want to sit in their armchairs looking at the back of it! We needed to create some space between the back of the retail park and the new homes. If we were going to create space it may as well be glorious!

Parks are vital to the creation of special places and are a key resource for the residents living and working in the City.

So New Islington includes some great spaces. A swathe of green land sweeps across the scheme, from the Rochdale Canal through to the Ashton. Much of this will be accessible. The spaces between the building “fingers” each have a different atmosphere, so there will be space to do all those things you like doing when it stops raining… sitting, chatting, reading, playing, eating, drinking.

In fact, nearly half of New Islington is open space or open water!

Development platform provided by
English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency.

English Partnerships’ aim is to deliver high quality, sustainable growth in England. It does this by:

Developing it’s portfolio of strategic sites

Acting as the government’s specialist advisor on brownfield land

Ensuring that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider government objectives, especially those contained in the Sustainable Communities Plan

Helping to create communities where people can afford to live and want to live

Supporting the urban renaissance by improving the quality of our towns and cities.

Designer:
Grant Associates

Piercy Street

Piercy St is the next phase of housing for existing residents. FAT have gotten on famously with the local community, and they were always going to be a
hard act to follow, but de Metz Forbes Knight have welcomed this challenge and are working closely with residents to design some fantastic new homes.

As with the first phase, a competition was organised by RIBA that attracted architects from all over Europe to enter. The judging panel came together and picked six practices, which they would have been happy to work with, and the residents put the architects through their paces and chose DMFK.

DMFK are a young practice with a fresh, eclectic approach to the design process, who like to shun elitist design and concentrate on quality of life for everyone. We are delighted to have them on board the New Islington team.

Developer:
Manchester Methodist Housing Group

Designer:
de Metz Forbes Knight Architects

Redhill Street Bridge

Lots of things happen at this point! The new canal-side High Street meets Ancoats Urban Village, meets the new School, meets the Rochdale Canal. It could look like spaghetti junction. Instead, we propose to construct an elegant sweeping footbridge, linking all of these routes.

Development platform provided by
English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency.

English Partnerships’ aim is to deliver high quality, sustainable growth in England. It does this by:

Developing it’s portfolio of strategic sites

Acting as the government’s specialist advisor on brownfield land

Ensuring that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider government objectives, especially those contained in the Sustainable Communities Plan

Helping to create communities where people can afford to live and want to live

Supporting the urban renaissance by improving the quality of our towns and cities.

Designer:
Alsop Architects (Strategic Framework)
Martin Stockley Associates

School

We want families in New Islington. Families need schools.

In recent years, the population of Manchester city centre has grown rapidly. Lofts and apartments have created a new and exciting place to live. Those who realised the possibilities have discovered the joys of city living, Manchester has welcomed them - they have changed the face of the city for the better.

But things move on. All those bars and clubs are great places to meet new friends and partners and it won’t be long before these partnerships introduce the patter of tiny feet to the city’s streets. We are looking forward to it – once again the face of the city will be change for the better.

So it’s time to start thinking about new schools for the city centre. Not just ordinary schools, but great schools. In New Islington we want to create a school that is envied in the suburbs. We want teachers and families to move to New Islington just so they can be part of it.

It’s not going to be easy, but we have the vision and the process has started. We’ve set aside a fantastic site - in a park, surrounded by water and wildlife. We want the school to be open from dawn to dusk, so the whole community gets the chance to learn there and play there.

For the school to work well, it needs good design, good funding and good teachers. We know we can get good design. We are working on the funding. If we get these two, the third will come naturally.

Developer:
To be confirmed

Designer:
To be confirmed

The Dispensary

This building was the start of Ancoats Hospital. Built in 1872, it quickly grew, with extension after extension to become one of Manchester’s busiest hospitals. So busy in fact that L S Lowry painted the waiting room!

We’ve therefore kept the place where it all began - the Dispensary. The refurbishment of this listed building should be complete towards the end of 2005, and will include the first private homes for sale within New Islington.

Developer:
Urban Splash

Designer:
Ian Simpson Architects

Tree House

Part of the commitment that the New Islington Client Group entered into was to work with other developers to make the process as inclusive as possible, and to share some of the risk.

A competition has recently been held to find a Developer/Architect team to build on one of the best plots in New Islington. Following entries from all over Europe, Taylor Woodrow with shedkm architects have been selected to develop this site.

Developer:
Manchester Methodist Housing Group
Taylor Woodrow

Designer:
shedkm

Urban Barns

http://www.newislington.com/upload/images/barns_02.jpg

Fancy something different? If you have dreamed of the space and flexibility that a barn conversion in the countryside gives you, but still crave the convenience and buzz of the city centre, then these are for you!

Set in the green ‘park’ strip of New Islington, these homes are totally unique. Warm timber materials will be used extensively to create family size homes in touch with the landscape. Lush private gardens extend beneath the properties, with water extending between the gardens.

A private car park provides enough spaces for one to one parking.

Developer:
Urban Splash

Designer:
Alsop Architects (Strategic Framework)

Water

http://www.newislington.com/upload/images/NI_Movie_3.jpghttp://www.newislington.com/upload/images/NI_Movie_4.jpg
http://www.newislington.com/upload/images/lengrant_digi5.jpghttp://www.newislington.com/upload/images/lengrant_digi1.jpg

There has always been water in Ancoats. Originally there were canals, allowing deliveries to the pioneering mills at a time when Ancoats led the world into the Industrial Revolution. When the world caught up, the canals became derelict - but now they’re back and this time they are there for the community to enjoy! The material used to build the banks of the new water spaces in New Islington will come from the basement excavations to the new buildings. Most people would cart this away at vast expense. Instead we have decided to keep it, clean it and make something glorious from it - now that’s sustainability!

Development platform provided by
English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency.

English Partnerships’ aim is to deliver high quality, sustainable growth in England. It does this by:

Developing it’s portfolio of strategic sites

Acting as the government’s specialist advisor on brownfield land

Ensuring that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider government objectives, especially those contained in the Sustainable Communities Plan

Helping to create communities where people can afford to live and want to live

Supporting the urban renaissance by improving the quality of our towns and cities.

Designer:
Martin Stockley Associates
Grant Associates

Weybridge Road

Unlike much of the old Cardroom Estate, the houses on Weybridge Road address the street and haven’t suffered from being hidden away in the middle of the estate where all the bad things went on.

Local residents expressed a desire to keep some of the existing houses and because most of these were in a relatively good position - facing onto the main street and relatively good condition - we worked the plan to incorporate them.

These houses will be upgraded to ensure that the standards of the Millennium Community will apply to them - in so far as we are able.

Developer:
To be confirmed

Designer:
To be confirmed

Woodward Place

http://www.newislington.com/upload/images/NI_FAT.jpg
(See construction pic in post #7).

It seems right and proper that the first scheme to actually be built in the area is to provide new homes for the existing residents.

We worked with the RIBA competitions office to run an architectural competition to choose the best architect to work on the project.

We had a judging panel of the good and the great and the judges picked six practices who, on balance, they would have been happy to do the job.

The residents then got to choose which one of those six they wanted to work with.

We’re delighted to say that they chose to get FAT.

FAT are mad as hatters with a serious point to make in this world of slick architecture and aspirant home makeover programmes. They happen to think that IKEA were wrong when they told us to chuck out our Chinz.

Plus they made the residents laugh and we all knew that we’d get on fabulously with them, and we have.

In the eyes of Will Alsop who chaired the judging panel, FAT were a quintessential part of the diversity that we are looking to embrace across New Islington.

Developer:
Manchester Methodist Housing Group

Designer:
FAT

http://www.newislington.com/html/

Griff

December 14th, 2005, 12:22 AM

Really do not like this 'fad-dish' Architecture.. sure, its always nice to break from the norm of domestic buildings but these don't do it for me.. too 'cardboard cut-out'..
Having said that I do like the weird pink/text facade building...

Hasn't architecture always been "faddish" though? Gothic revival architecture was faddish in its day, so was art nouveau, so was art deco. Isn't that what makes for distinctive style?

I love the look of Woodward Place so far. In fact, judging by those pics Sleepy posted, they'll actually look better in real life than on the original designs.

I'm glad to see they've really put their money where their mouth is with New Islington .

ferge

December 14th, 2005, 12:27 AM

Hasn't architecture always been "faddish" though? Gothic revival architecture was faddish in its day, so was art nouveau, so was art deco. Isn't that what makes for distinctive style?

I love the look of Woodward Place so far. In fact, judging by those pics Sleepy posted, they'll actually look better in real life than on the original designs.

I'm glad to see they've really put their money where their mouth is with New Islington .

True, I never thought of it like that.. More that Gothic is more venacular than a mere fad? But you're right.

Northbeach

December 14th, 2005, 12:44 AM

Cheers for a pretty definitive New Issy update Sleeps.

inquisitor57

December 14th, 2005, 03:30 AM

I'm not sure I like every design in the scheme but as a whole it should look really good, something a bit different. I'm hoping it produces a lot of public discussion about architecture aswell, who knows, someone might say something intelligent ;)

spacepostman

December 14th, 2005, 11:53 AM

Looking good... shame most of the properties are so unreasonably priced despite the promise that theywould be affordable to all.

Farsight

December 14th, 2005, 01:07 PM

Thanks for all the info SleepyOne.

There's some interesting looking stuff here, but IMHO some of it is OTT and won't work. I dislike the rusty lampposts on Old Mill Street. The Urban Barns on stilts remind me of Hulme. Chips makes me think of graffiti. Woodward Place has an echo of ruins. And there's nothing that makes me think "wow gorgeous". So I'm wondering if the desire to make a statement will get in the way of beauty and practicality and fuck up the overall effect.

ManchesterISwonderful

December 14th, 2005, 03:23 PM

Latic

December 14th, 2005, 03:31 PM

Loving this development! Makes a change from the norm. Any one got any idea how much these places will cost?

ManchesterISwonderful

December 14th, 2005, 03:38 PM

147K - 240K ish, I think. Not bad.IMO.

majormystery

December 14th, 2005, 03:43 PM

147K - 240K ish, I think. Not bad.IMO.

Blimey. 240k!
What price would you consider 'bad'?

ManchesterISwonderful

December 14th, 2005, 03:47 PM

Blimey. 240k!
What price would you consider 'bad'?

Upto 240K. Small 3 bed semis cost around 150K thesedays. Three bed terraces cost 90K in Moss Side, so considering everything I don't think it's too bad. Oh and I think the price I quoted is for Chips.

Housing is far too expensive, I agree. But there's nowt we can do about it.

majormystery

December 14th, 2005, 03:51 PM

I'm just about to buy a 3 bed town house in Bolton for 65k. So nerr. :eek2:

caw123

December 14th, 2005, 04:18 PM

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/caw123/PC060033copy.jpg

What's going here? Next to the road with the funny lamposts.

ManchesterISwonderful

December 14th, 2005, 04:24 PM

I wish they'd knock down that terrible retail park.

andysimo123

December 14th, 2005, 05:37 PM

I wish they'd knock down that terrible retail park.
Retail parks will be a thing of the past in afew years time. The one in Altrincham is dead most of the time and in the last two months four stores have closed. The Internet will slowly kill them off. Curry's and Comet will one day just have afew stores and sell over the Internet. I can see stores like JJB and other sports shops moving out and only opening more stores in town centres. The only stores that I can see using them is B&Q and MFI.

Accura4Matalan

December 14th, 2005, 07:09 PM

B&Q and MFI.
I think a few more of the big names will survive on them.

Mez

December 14th, 2005, 07:20 PM

The Manchester fort is booming. Whenever im there its allways hammered. Thankfully ancoats isnt, and will go some day soon.

highriser

December 14th, 2005, 07:48 PM

Exactly Mez, the Manchester Fort will force the retail park to close, i'll give it 2 year's :) then it will be getting redeveloped :)

jrb

December 14th, 2005, 09:46 PM

Mad as cheese! :)

Guided tours will be a cert!

The old and the new next to each other!

December 14th, 2005, 10:10 PM

Seems we've all taken a drive/walk round here recently

http://freake.demon.co.uk/sscpics/man083.jpg

http://freake.demon.co.uk/sscpics/man085.jpg

jrb

December 14th, 2005, 10:37 PM

Good work Sleepy!

SleepyOne

December 14th, 2005, 10:48 PM

Can't wait to see the result of the architectural competitions for forthcoming phases within the development, particularly De Metz's social housing (phase II) and Shed KM's proposal for the very large plot, labelled "tree house", in the summary on page 1.

Regarding the retail park, looks like they intend to mask it with planting and "projections". Lets hope its not long for this world in any event.
http://www.newislington.com/html/images/green/pic_green8.jpg

Another thing Ive noticed is how the health centre projects out on stilts over the lake. What a setting - it will be a pleasure to be ill at New Islington!!
http://www.stephenson-bell.com/web-data/Components/70303.jpg

rolybling

December 14th, 2005, 10:55 PM

lol..good stuff sleepyone

December 15th, 2005, 02:24 AM

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/caw123/PC060033copy.jpg

What's going here? Next to the road with the funny lamposts.

Canal basin?

Craig

December 15th, 2005, 11:45 AM

Yes its a stretch of new canal that will link in with the stretch that's been done by the Rochdale Canal/Redhill Street side. The section between the Ashton Canal and Old Mill Street is completed and filled. The two new bits of canal (on either side of Old Mill Street) unfortunately won't be physically connected although there is that illusion as you go over the timber 'bridge' section of Old Mill Street.

9462

December 15th, 2005, 02:51 PM

Retail parks will be a thing of the past in afew years time.

Not in Bury they wont.

Osa Rey

December 17th, 2005, 03:19 AM

Not in Bury they wont.

Didn't you hear the news? Bury is to be kept in a timewarp while the rest of Manchester gets developed.

The plan is to take any naysayers (a la 'Knock down the Arndale?! But it's such a lovely place to shop.') down to Bury blindfolded, stand them in the centre of town, spin them round seven times and give them five minutes to find their way out of the shopping centre before being condemned to live there forever.

Elsewhere...

I think New Islington looks superb, and I hope it will transfer well to reality. But it is a shame that, like with most other developments, only those with good incomes will get a real look in (the housing association bit seems paltry to me).

I wish they would have increased the density and thus lowered the prices. The more you can fit in to these kinds of developments, the fewer you condemn to the need for cars / wasted travelling time / stunted lifestyles caused by living too far from the work and leisure in town.

And, more's the pity, it is those who travel by car who support those awful retail parks.

Grrr...

Sir Miles Platting

December 17th, 2005, 07:12 AM

Welcome Osa, I met a gorgeous chick from Besses 30 odd years ago.
We're still married. :cheers:

jrb

December 27th, 2005, 08:53 PM

New Islington today.

Slowly starting to take shape.

Note the back drop!

http://www.thefreeimagehosting.com/Uploads/Images/4985699800000Picture 145.jpg (http://www.thefreeimagehosting.com/)

http://www.thefreeimagehosting.com/Uploads/Images/4985727925001Picture 146.jpg (http://www.thefreeimagehosting.com/)

9462

December 28th, 2005, 12:53 AM

Didn't you hear the news? Bury is to be kept in a timewarp while the rest of Manchester gets developed.

im just saying that Bury has loads of Wearhouses....and bury market etc. and fells a bit empty

IMO i fuking hate bury, full of 16 year old wheel chair pushers, and old farts who get up at 7am to go to the dull depressing market, and sit ouside in the freezing cold while they have a cold cup of coffee. Full of chavs and low-lifes. Apart form that the non-chavs a friendly people, in fact there the nicest people in the world there.

although im happy Bury wasnt overtook by horrid 70s brutal architecture. And has kept its old buildings in conderely good shape. but yes! there is loads of bloody warehouses just outside of bury

SleepyOne

January 22nd, 2006, 10:18 PM

New Isington Water and Old Mill Street, thanks to jrb for pics.

In the background of the first pic you can make out the Bascule bridge near the site of CHIPS.
http://tinypic.com/ilknme.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture008.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture00611.jpg

Northbeach

February 8th, 2006, 10:06 AM

Blink and you would've missed it, but there fella's made their TV debut last night (on the irascible shameless):

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/december13th006.jpg

Farsight

February 8th, 2006, 02:56 PM

Ummm. Not sure I like them. For the instant when I glimpsed the picture a thought came into my head:

Ruins. I don't like them rusty-girder lampposts either. There's stuff here that's novel, different, daring, avante-garde. But just not beautiful.

Sir Miles Platting

February 8th, 2006, 05:49 PM

What's with all these flat false facades? It might have been a cute or funky idea on the drawing board, but it was bound to turn out like a parody of an old western cowboy street.

Maybe I'm not getting the point of it all though....

ManchesterISwonderful

February 8th, 2006, 05:59 PM

Ummm. Not sure I like them. For the instant when I glimpsed the picture a thought came into my head:

I don't like them rusty-girder lampposts either. There's stuff here that's novel, different, daring, avante-garde. But just not beautiful.

in your opinion, Mr Sight.

I think those lamposts look sexy.

See what I've done here.

Farsight

February 8th, 2006, 06:55 PM

Miles is right about the facades looking like some parody of a Wild West set.

I like the shape of the lampposts, ManchesterIsWonderful. They're neat and simple. But I don't like the rust. It says "rustbelt" to me, "dereliction". And I really don't like the almost unmade road with those lumps. It's like something third world, or out of Mad Max. It's trying to make a statement but what it says to me is derelict and ugly. I don't mind if it's cutting edge, but it's got to be beautiful, a place you look at and say Wow, that's where I want to be. Not Jeez, bandit country, let's get out of here.

I smell a very strong whiff of Emperor's New Clothes here.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture00611.jpg

Sir Miles Platting

February 8th, 2006, 08:18 PM

SleepyOne

February 8th, 2006, 09:47 PM

The lamp posts have an industrial aesthetic which is appropriate to the area but are also thoroughly modern in their design. In fact, you could say they were 'original modern' !! I think they will provide a good contrast to some of the ultra modern building designs which will line Old Mill Street.

As for Woodford Place well I think they look stupendously good. Is great to see such high design values for one of the social housing phases at New Islington.

Northbeach

February 9th, 2006, 12:57 AM

They are a little baffling to behold sat behind your CTX or visual flat box. You should take a look in the flesh though - daring and humorous to say the least, which is what New Islington is all about. Will they work and are they built to stick around?

If you can smell his clothes then I'd hazard a guess his keks are on this time around.

Farsight

February 9th, 2006, 03:25 PM

Industrial aesthetic and daring are all well and good. But not if somebody is so keen about it that they forget about beauty. I think architects like Will Alsop are prone to this sort of thing. Those lamposts would look good to me if they were something other than rust, and surrounded by a planted bed. Maybe that sort of thing is in the plan, and it will turn out looking really good. If not, New Islington could suffer until somebody admits they were wrong or is overruled. I guess we'll see.

ManchesterISwonderful

February 9th, 2006, 04:47 PM

but it's got to be beautiful, a place you look at and say Wow, that's where I want to be. Not Jeez, bandit country, let's get out of here.

That's just it, Mr Sight. I think they are 'beautiful' or sexy or whatever. There's a difference between classical beauty such as Venice and Florence architecture, and. . .er lets say. . .the Guggenheim. But it doesn't mean there's a benchmark and a standard for beauty. It's been said before that it's all very subjective. And Sleepy's comments about Industrial aesthetics are spot on. I think the Lowry centre's beautiful as well, but it also looks very industrial(yet organic at the same time). Suits the area to boot.

Farsight

February 9th, 2006, 06:29 PM

GShutty

February 9th, 2006, 06:54 PM

Good on you for probing Farsight. I just think it's sometimes hard to describe 'beauty'. In this case a lot of the members are simply finding it pleasing to the eye, but feelings are always difficult to describe. I don't think that anybody was being evasive, or facetious. :)

For me I like the angles that the lamposts are at and the way the lights are long and sleek. I also like the mix of 'raw' materials: Iron, Stone and Wood. I like how the rust reflects the proximity of the red-brick mills on either side (Royal Mills and Murray Mills to the left of shot and the Vulcan Works and Albion Mills to the right, with Ancoats Hospital in the middle). Furthermore I think this will look significantly better once the project is finished and there is a canal at either side, rather than the blue fencing.

Dislikes? The road is rather noisy when cars drive over it. Ruins the calm around there.

SHAMELESS

February 9th, 2006, 07:29 PM

Blink and you would've missed it, but there fella's made their TV debut last night (on the irascible shameless):

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/december13th006.jpg

Nice facades, obviously thinking of future expansion in may be fifty years...add on 450mm to the rooms and roof.

ManchesterISwonderful

February 9th, 2006, 07:36 PM

I know it's subjective, but I try to explain why I find something beautiful or ugly because we're all interested in architecture, it's fun to talk, and we all seek to learn and understand.

I wish you'd try to explain instead of being somewhat biting. Then I could understand.

Is this beautiful? If so why?

I'm not trying to wind you up. Just telling you, we've all got different tastes.

Why do I think it looks sexy? I like the way the lamp posts curve and fit together. I also like the part that I assume will light. It's like a metal plate with a circle at the bottom of it. They all look slick, together, mate. . . what can I say. I even like the material. It's very industrial. . .but it looks so contemporary at the same time.

Now that's how I see it. But you don't. Who's right? no one. But I like and that's all that matters to me.

I like Scarlett Johansson, but you may not, because you're not a fan of big tits. . . it's a personal thing, isn't it.

Isaac Newell

February 9th, 2006, 07:43 PM

Whose desk have those lamps dropped off.

SHAMELESS

February 9th, 2006, 07:56 PM

I don't think those lamposts will always look rusty. It's probably that type of steel that eventually oxidizes to an almost 'bronze' finish, like the 'B' of the Bang thingy.
They are a great futuristic design but it's no good just having one poxy strip of them, they should be carried on all over the district to have the right effect.
No you couldn't put them all over the district especially when we are now living in an era of "conservation of energy". Those hideous desk lamps would be better placed in a reading library...If they were better designed then their spacing could have been increased to may be 30 to 40 metres with the right lighting matrix as seen on motorways. PS Did they nick the road/footpath paving from the Glastonbury Festival?

Sir Miles Platting

February 9th, 2006, 09:41 PM

No you couldn't put them all over the district especially when we are now living in an era of "conservation of energy". Those hideous desk lamps would be better placed in a reading library...If they were better designed then their spacing could have been increased to may be 30 to 40 metres with the right lighting matrix as seen on motorways. PS Did they nick the road/footpath paving from the Glastonbury Festival?
I've not seen the path coz I've not been down there for years, but it looks more like a board-walk than 'paving' to me.
Board-walks are ok in places like N. American sea-side towns.

Not sure how they would 'weather' in the UK though, they don't look too pristine to me judging from the pic.

Regarding the lamps, I'm only rating them from the pic also, so I may change my mind this summer when I check them out up close. :)

Sir Miles Platting

February 9th, 2006, 09:50 PM

No you couldn't put them all over the district especially when we are now living in an era of "conservation of energy". Those hideous desk lamps would be better placed in a reading library...If they were better designed then their spacing could have been increased to may be 30 to 40 metres with the right lighting matrix as seen on motorways. PS Did they nick the road/footpath paving from the Glastonbury Festival?
I forgot to respond to the 'conservation of energy' issue you brought up.
Manchester is known to be one of the worst (dimmest) lit cities in Europe. It plays a big factor as to why there is such a lot of street crime.
Bright(er) lighting (with CCTV) has proved to combat this unfortunate statistic.
Reduced crime and safer streets may just be the optimum trade-off for the extra energy consumed.

Farsight

February 9th, 2006, 09:55 PM

I like the shape of the lamps Gshutty. Thanks for explaining. And ManchesterIsWonderful, I guess I wouldn't get the "derelict" impression if the road was smarter with kerbs and planting and stuff. Oh, and I definitelylike Scarlett Johansson, but ooh shit here comes the missus and I gotta go.

doka..dan

February 9th, 2006, 10:39 PM

I forgot to respond to the 'conservation of energy' issue you brought up.
Manchester is known to be one of the worst (dimmest) lit cities in Europe. It plays a big factor as to why there is such a lot of street crime.
Bright(er) lighting (with CCTV) has proved to combat this unfortunate statistic.
Reduced crime and safer streets may just be the optimum trade-off for the extra energy consumed.
Being a Professor of Paving....In the background you will see the block paving is laid in the basket weave bond using Marshall blocks.....colour charcoal....with a stretcher bond running along the kerbs.... most probably 80mm blocks laid on 30mm of sharp sand.....In the foreground....F'ck knows ...may be a cattle grating !
Sir MP.....Wouldn't be a good idea if somebody applied for a SERC grant to do a
PHD in the Cost Benefit Analysis Of Street Lighting Verses Crime!!!!!!

jrb

February 9th, 2006, 10:47 PM

Being a Professor of Paving....In the background you will see the block paving is laid in the basket weave bond using Marshall blocks.....colour charcoal....with a stretcher bond running along the kerbs.... most probably 80mm blocks laid on 30mm of sharp sand.....In the foreground....F'ck knows ...may be a cattle grating !
Sir MP.....Wouldn't be a good idea if somebody applied for a SERC grant to do a
PHD in the Cost Benefit Analysis Of Street Lighting Verses Crime!!!!!!

Dan.

That's probably the most sensible post you've ever posted.

There is hope after all. :)

The Longford

February 9th, 2006, 11:23 PM

Now we know how to get something coherent out of him - just talk about paving!

doka..dan

February 10th, 2006, 12:24 AM

Dan.

That's probably the most sensible post you've ever posted.

There is hope after all. :)

May be...When i'm in the right frame of mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sir Miles Platting

February 10th, 2006, 05:22 AM

May be...When i'm in the right frame of mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!
....and the medication kicks in...... ;)

Cherguevara

February 27th, 2006, 12:06 AM

New Islington got an article today in the Observer (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1718072,00.html). Perhaps not the greatest piece of journalism ever to be commited to the internet, and a significant lack of pretty imagery, but it is nice that Manchester is getting some semi-positive recognition in a paper that to me has always seemed stomach-turningly metrpolitan in interests and attitude.

I'm not as convinced as the writer seems to be of the virtue of sticking a facade on a box and calling it Amsterdam. I liked the images of Woodward place proposed, but in reality it seems a bit smug. Perhaps it will weather into something with a bit of character rather than just the mad auntie of every Barrat Home it appears to be.

Farsight

February 27th, 2006, 11:08 AM

Observer: The Cardroom was built in the 1970s as tidy rows of two-storey houses surrounded by trees and grass. It represented town planning's backlash against the tower blocks of the previous decade, which were themselves a reaction against the hideous slums before them. Now, in the shape of Fat's houses, we are seeing the backlash to the backlash... With the rusty lampposts et cetera I'm not convinced we won't be talking about this again in another thirty years.

SleepyOne

March 12th, 2006, 10:24 PM

Plenty of lovely images and information from engineer, Martin Stockley's freshly updated website.

New Islington Millennium Community

Construction of the new canals, waterpark and associated infrastructure is due for completion in April 2006. Old Mill Street was opened to the public in 2005. We are lead consultants and Engineers for the design and are overseeing its construction on behalf of English Partnerships.

Chips are cooking

Construction of the first Urban Splash building, 'Chips', on the New Islington Millennium Community site started just before Christmas, with excavation for the basement car park. This Alsop-designed building has a very distinct form, with the middle of the three overlaying chips cantilevering about 11m.

(Scans of these images have been posted before of course).

http://www.martinstockleyassociates.co.uk/images/portfolio_images/chips_02.jpg
CHIPS BUILDING, NEW ISLINGTON

http://www.martinstockleyassociates.co.uk/images/portfolio_images/chips_03.jpg
CHIPS BUILDING, NEW ISLINGTON

http://www.martinstockleyassociates.co.uk/images/portfolio_images/chips_04.jpg
BASCULE BRIDGE

http://www.martinstockleyassociates.co.uk/images/portfolio_images/newisl_mill_05.jpg
BIRDSEYE VIEW SHOWING NEW CANAL ARM, SITE OF 'CHIPS', BASCULE BRIDGE (bottom middle), OLD MILL STREET (top) ANCOATS HOSPITAL (top right).

SleepyOne

March 12th, 2006, 10:33 PM

Bit of info on Old Mill Street.

Old Mill Street, New Islington

Project: Old Mill Street, New Islington
Client: Urban Splash / Manchester City Council / English Partnerships
Role: Civil and Infrastructure Engineer
Landscape Architect: Grant Associates

Old Mill Street is one of the most innovative new streets in Britain. Its shared surface has no road markings or kerbs, encouraging a sense of equal ownership for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists and therefore more responsible road use. Sandstone sets are used to indicate informally the carriageways, pavements and parking area; architectural features include sculptured COR-TEN® steel lampposts and bespoke cast iron discs set into the street surface. We were Lead Consultant for the design and delivery of Old Mill Street, which was opened in 2005 and is at the heart of the New Islington Millennium Community currently under construction.

http://www.martinstockleyassociates.co.uk/images/portfolio_images/old_mill_02.jpg

http://www.martinstockleyassociates.co.uk/images/portfolio_images/old_mill_03.jpg

Nice to see FAT's involvement here is being extended beyond their funky social housing blocks.

Old Mill Street

As part of the New Islington infrastructure, FAT Architects have been commissioned to design the two new bus shelters for Old Mill Street. The designs are now well advanced and include the use of laser cut metal panels superimposed with images. We are helping out with some of the engineering issues.

jrb

March 12th, 2006, 10:59 PM

Following on from Sleepy's post.

Urban Splash kindly sent me a brochure and DVD about Chips. Some interesting renders on the DVD.

A couple of scans from the brochure.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/quin1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/quin.jpg

rolybling

March 13th, 2006, 10:36 AM

thanks for the info chaps, its an interesting development this, im looking forward to it coming together, the area certainly needs it.

SleepyOne

March 27th, 2006, 10:18 PM

Well we all moan about the lack of substantial green open spaces in Manchester...

Water park makes a splash on urban landscape

Work has now started on Manchester’s first urban water park, bringing greenery and water to the heart of the city. Located in New Islington, Manchester’s Millennium Community, the ‘eco’ park, which is nearly four acres in size, is the development’s centrepiece.

Landscape architects, Grant Associates and engineers Martin Stockley Associates have incorporated islands, decking, boardwalks and bridges into the design of a boating lake, which is framed by a reed bed. The ‘eco’ park will also feature a beach, a ‘community’ orchard – an idea suggested by local residents, follies and an area of public open space containing a range of trees and wildflowers creating a variety of habitats for wildlife.

A mooring ‘island’ will take up to six narrow boats, and the lake will also offer rowing boat hire, paddling, fishing and picnicking areas. The lake spills out to create canal fingers that lead to New Islington’s quayside developments.

Situated on the edge of the city centre and with a pedestrian route creating a new link between the Rochdale and Ashton canals, the park’s landscape gently slopes down into the new waterway, forming a valley.

Robert Hough, Chairman of New East Manchester Ltd said: "The first municipal park in the world was built in East Manchester so it is fitting that this innovative new park will be located here. This highly imaginative use of open space is designed to be fun, educational and community focused and I’m sure it will bring an enormous amount of enjoyment to local people and visitors alike."

David Chilton, senior regeneration manager of English Partnerships, said: "English Partnerships’ Millennium Communities are all about building places where people will want to live. People need houses, but they also need space to enjoy life, and this water park will be the ideal place to do just that.

"The whole development is about new ways of doing things and thinking about the longer term effects, or the ‘sustainability’ of the scheme. The work starting on the water park is another element of what will make the New Islington Millennium Community special. It’s much more than building houses, it’s about building a community with facilities – such as the water park - which in turn makes it a place where people will want to live. "

Richard Hattan, Associate Director, Urban Splash, said: "The water park is the centrepiece of New Islington and will be a great space asset, not only to the residents and workers in New Islington but for the whole of Manchester to enjoy. It will really stamp the identity of New Islington on the area and enhance the massive changes we are already delivering including Islington Square, the houses designed by FAT, and the completed remodelling of Old Mill Street."

Steve Pugmire, Engineering Manager, British Waterways added:" The new era of canals has changed communities across the North West. The new water park will be at the heart of the development at New Islington and will be a rare attraction on the outskirts of the city centre for all to enjoy."

Work on the water park is undertaken by Volker Stevin and the new facility will be open for public use from summer 2007.

The water park is part of New Islington, Manchester’s Millennium Community, which in turn is one of English Partnerships’ seven Millennium Communities, New Islington is a partnership between national regeneration agency English Partnerships, Urban Splash and New East Manchester Ltd together with appointed social landlord, Manchester Methodist Housing Group. The 29 acre site, just east of Manchester city centre is being radically transformed to a strategic and ambitious vision created by Will Alsop. A new canal and water park, over 1400 new homes, office space, a school, a health clinic, shops, bars and restaurants are planned to be created, using the world’s best architecture.

To make it an obvious and attractive place for people to visit they also need to get the surrounding buildings right and help enhance the sense of place. It sounds like quite a large park so I would hope the buildings which will define its boundary will be proportional. Shame about the retail park on the other side though...

rolybling

March 28th, 2006, 06:13 AM

thanks sleepy, interesting stuff

RanjitSingh

March 28th, 2006, 12:39 PM

This must be one of the most exciting projects in Manchester's history. After the successful regeneration of the city centre its nice to see the 'inner city' improving. This scheme looks sustainable and will be one of those rare communities where families will move into the central urban environment. Its also great to see Will Alsop really brand something new and excenrically Original on to our wonderful city. EXCITED!

Cherguevara

March 28th, 2006, 01:00 PM

4 acres is not very big. Regent's park is 487 acres. That's a real park.

Farsight

March 28th, 2006, 01:38 PM

Still, it's nice to see a park. Thankyou for that info SleepyOne. Do you still rate CHIPS? And do you think it would look better without the psuedo-printing?

Mez

March 28th, 2006, 01:59 PM

4 acres is not very big. Regent's park is 487 acres. That's a real park.

Where are we gonna find 487 acres in town? effort.

majormystery

March 28th, 2006, 02:02 PM

A few little parks scattered around has to be better than one big dock off one anyway.
All we need is places to stick a few more now.

neil

March 28th, 2006, 07:25 PM

We have Heaton Park for one big dock off one.

Cherguevara

March 28th, 2006, 10:05 PM

But if you live South of town Heaton Park is a long way away.

I do disagree about the size though, big parks are better. You actually feel like you're out of the city for a few hours in a way you can't in a small one. You can't hear traffic, there's enough space for a decent run (should you be so mentally unwell as to want to exercise) and people can play sports without interfering with people who just want to to sit, chat, eat and drink. You can have outdoor plays or musical events in summer without taking up the whole park The bigger they are the better the mix of people using them. When I lived in London I could walk (the long way) to work through Regents Park which was often a better bet than going down noisy polluted Camden High Street.

If I had an unlimited sum of money the first thing I'd do would be to buy up Old Trafford (south of Stretford Road) and build (an original, modern) Regents Park upon it.

Ah well, only dreams.

Sir Miles Platting

March 28th, 2006, 11:04 PM

^^ don't the south mancunians have Tatton Park ?

The Longford

March 28th, 2006, 11:10 PM

^^ don't the south mancunians have Tatton Park ?

Tatton Park is a far from me as Heaton Park is!
Saying that ive got 4 decent parks within walking distance of me (essential when youve got a high maintenance 2 year old) and they are all well looked after.
Pat on the back for Mcr Parks i say!

Northbeach

March 29th, 2006, 12:28 AM

What's happening (if anything) on the 'Central Park' scheme in Salford? Mooted by 'two-jug-faces' Prescott at the time if I remember. A large park (golden gate/central park style) you can hitch a tram (ha-'kin ha) to. Small squares/parks (Angel Meadows) for each quarter/district suffice in the meantime (good book and eye candy during the summer in such places is manna from devon).

Liam-Manchester

March 29th, 2006, 02:48 PM

Well the development of the inner city areas close to the City Centre is a good opportunity for developers to introduce green open spaces, as within a few years these areas could well be part of the City Centre.

The Longford

March 29th, 2006, 06:51 PM

Manchester's 'seaside' takes shape

NEW: Work under way.
IF you're dreaming of the Costas or the Golden Mile, a little bit of seaside magic is on offer nearer to home - in the heart of Manchester.
It won't actually have sand - pebbles and silt will be used. And its location - Ancoats - may come as something of a surprise.

The beach will slope into a leisure lake at Manchester's first urban "eco" park at New Islington, which is part of Ancoats.

A spokesman for developers Urban Splash said: "There will be two large islands, connected by board walks, and on one side the beach will gradually slope down to the water so that anybody can wander up to the edge and feed the ducks or go for a paddle. The details of the proposal are still being drawn up."

Sunbathers

The lakes will be used by leisure craft, and on hot summer's days, it is envisaged that the islands will be used by sunbathers.

The four-acre "eco" park will also feature a community orchard - an idea suggested by local residents - follies and an area of public open space containing trees and wildflowers creating habitats for wildlife.

Work has now started on the project.

A mooring island will take up to six narrow boats, and the lake will also offer rowing boat hire, paddling, fishing and picnicking areas.

The lake spills out to create canal "fingers" that lead to New Islington's quayside developments.

URBAN Splash is also behind another beach plan - by the River Irwell at Greengate in Salford.

Cherguevara

March 29th, 2006, 09:37 PM

I have to admit I am being a bit churlish. I do actually dreally like this park plan, and the idea of little parks surrounding town in general, I just wish that there was something a little more significant not far out of town with real parklands, sports fields, a boating lake, an outdoor theatre and something fivilous like an exotic plant or butterfly house. And so in the summer you could say "fuck cooking, lets buy some crap from the shops and go and sit in the park with a bottle of wine and stumble home in the dusky sunshine". Or at least get them to do something with the Medlock behind Picadilly.

It would need some radical urban restructuring, but it would make me happy.

Talking of Tatton Park, I went to school in Knutsford and spent many happy sixth form afternoons going from Pub to park and back again in an intoxicated haze. I probably shouldn't have swum in the lake though.

Northbeach

March 30th, 2006, 12:59 AM

^^ - remember this (off thread topic - requirement for a squares/parks thread perhaps?):

Prescott to visit new ‘Central Park’ for Greater Manchester
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will visit the largest single site to be targeted under the £23 million Newlands regeneration scheme on Sunday 10 August, in Salford.

The partnership behind the ambitious Newlands project is confident that the 730 hectare site has the potential to become a ‘Central Park’ for the people of Salford and Manchester.

Less than a month after Mr Prescott launched Newlands at the House of Commons, he will visit the Lower Irwell Valley Integrated Action (LIVIA) site to see first hand how it is to be improved.
LIVIA is the largest site in the £23 million Newlands scheme, which is being developed by the Northwest Development Agency and the Forestry Commission. Up to £7 million has been earmarked to reclaim a third of the 730 hectare estate, which includes disused landfill sites, a former power station and a derelict canal.

The regeneration of LIVIA will be one of the biggest new parks currently being developed in Europe and the site is now being billed as Manchester’s answer to Central Park, with the new ‘green lung’ set to become as popular with the people of Salford and Manchester as its Manhattan counterpart is with New Yorkers.
Informal sports facilities, re-laid paths, new canals and better overall access will all help transform land which has suffered from over 150 years of industrial use. The site will then be linked up to two existing green corridors – Prestwich Forest and Clifton Country Park – completing the backbone for a new regional park.

http://www.nwda.co.uk/SimpleContent.aspx?news=1&area=72&subarea=73&item=20038110006556076&yr=2003

Jongeman

March 30th, 2006, 01:09 AM

I'm sorry to be a complete pain in the arse, but where the fuck is Newlands* supposed to be? Is it near Eastlands, by any chance?

(*quoting the article, and not you Northbeach)

This kind of historical revisionism drives me insane.

R.I.P. Bradford, Manchester.

Sorry, this thread is about New islington. I've said it before ad nauseam, but Central Retail Park needs to be replaced by a park, along with land the other side of Gt Ancoats St.

rolybling

March 30th, 2006, 09:09 PM

not a bad idea jongy!

Chorltonred

March 30th, 2006, 11:15 PM

My father-in-law lives in Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa if that's any help.

Not much like Salford though.

SleepyOne

March 31st, 2006, 12:34 AM

Love these...

http://www.building.co.uk/Pictures/web/u/x/h/g13projects1.jpg

Is this a joke?

31 March, 2006 Building Magazine.

Architectural practice FAT has a reputation for taking the mick. But its new social housing scheme in Manchester is at once playful and perfectly serious.

spacepostman

March 31st, 2006, 09:02 AM

You can buy half of one for £100k, bargain! *sighs*

War of the Roses

April 3rd, 2006, 10:19 AM

The Longford

April 3rd, 2006, 12:46 PM

Welcome WOTR
Before all the 'knock that old shit down' brigade wade in i'll be a witness for the defense for the ABPT.
The ABPT was set up when no one was interested in Ancoats and they just wanted to see Ancoats protected for its historical importance. They worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the place with no reward and managed in getting buildings listed, conservation areas designated etc etc.
The prevented important buildings falling down or being knocked down and raised lots of funds for this.
Then the vultures started circling when land for poxy flats wbegan running out. Ancoats went from a World heritage site to a development opportunity for greedy cynical developers.
There was a power struggle and ABPT was wrestled away from the people who did all the hard work at first and turned into a council puppet that would not make any negative noises should developers want to wade in.
Hence the bitterness and cynicism from the 'foot soldiers'.

War of the Roses

April 3rd, 2006, 01:34 PM

Very nicely put, Mr L.

I agree that theyve done great stuff with St Peters, and all that area round Anita St etc.

I shall hastily retract my previous incredulity.

Jongeman

April 3rd, 2006, 01:49 PM

Hello and welcome WOTR. I didn't think that New Islington had anything to do with ABPT, either spacially or developmentally. They're bound to be a bit disparaging, from what Mr L has said.

ABPT have done a wonderful job saving what is hopefully going to be the next Castlefield, especially within an historical context. Not sure, Mr L that there are many 'knock that old shit down' advocates on here, well....maybe one or two.

(Central Retail Park not long for this world?! Hmmmm, thank God, wonder where it's going?)

Craig

April 3rd, 2006, 02:04 PM

Longy you seem to have a particular slant on ABPT. I agree that they have done much, and continue to do good work in Ancoats but they are certainly not a council puppet and speak they're mind when they think its appropriate. I'm not sute what you mean when you say 'land for poxy flats started running out'. Ancoats has been subject to a CPO and even now not all land has been allocated for development and there are a lot of quality schemes being brought forward. The purpose of the CPO was, in the main, to take out of the equation greedy developers who were land banking and sell to developers who actually wanted take schemes forward which is what we are witnessing now. Ancoats has been a great example of partnership working with a range agencies, whilst not agreeing on absolutely everthing, in general consensus over how the area should be developed.

In response to Jongy I have to say that although ABPT have done a lot of work in Ancoats they are by no means the only or indeed main player. This is not about claiming glory but making sure that credit is given where credit is due.

On central retail park I'm not aware that there are any firm plans for its demise currently. Yes I'm sure it will go in the fullness of time but its going to be around a bit longer yet.

rolybling

April 4th, 2006, 09:02 AM

I wonder what will happen to those houses that are still left on Every St facing the new flats that are going up,(where Ian Skelley used to be)

Surely they won't stay for much longer, there's actually nothing wrong with the houses themselves but they will look rather out of place and scale with they're new improved surroundings. Does anyone know if they will stay or any plans for that side of the street?

Side note:I lived round the corner from these on Harding St (oh don't ask) about 7 or 8 years ago and there was this mad woman who lived in one of those houses opposite Ian Skelley and she was obsessed with my dog lol! She bought my dog a christmas card and signed it from HER DOG...I swear she wasn't all there.

my likkle doggy Sable,she's cute like her dad...honest
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y139/rolybling/P1010047.jpg

Jongeman

April 4th, 2006, 12:19 PM

She bought my dog a christmas card and signed it from HER DOG...I swear she wasn't all there.

How do you know that it wasn't her dog who bought and signed the card, you old cynic? Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. My cat sometimes sends people text messages complaining about what a neglectful wanker I am. It's bloody embarrassing.

Anyway, Every St. It's a bit odd round there, there's a weirdly misplaced executive home estate off on the right there, isn't there?

macc

April 4th, 2006, 07:06 PM

Morning all. Long time listener, first time caller.

I was wondering if anyone knew how the Ancoats BPT stood regarding all the New Islington/ Urban Splash stuff. I was on a guided walk last weekend with a couple of people from there, who seemed a bit disparaging and off-hand about all the new developments, especially the F.A.T. houses opposite the Cob o Coal. Everyones entitled to their opinion, of course, but it didnt seem very productive.

Although, something good did come out of it. They dont reckon Central Retail Park will last for much longer. Although Im sure that all you bang up to date folks knew that already. :)

Hello WOTR

I was looking into going on one of those walking tours of ancoats ages ago. I guess it must have been last year. If I remember correctly they only did them in the summer/autumn and I missed the last of the season. I guess ABPT have a web site about when and where. Would you recommend the tour? I might consider lookng into it again if so.

jrb

April 28th, 2006, 12:13 AM

Taken Saturday.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture097.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture098.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture096.jpg

frozenmusic

April 28th, 2006, 12:15 AM

cool, cheers jrb, has chips started yet?

jrb

April 28th, 2006, 12:21 AM

cool, cheers jrb, has chips started yet?

No Mate.

Irish Blood English Heart

April 28th, 2006, 01:29 AM

Some travellors have moved in today by the looks of it.

SleepyOne

April 28th, 2006, 01:37 AM

What do you make of them now this quite astonishing project is now largely complete?

The following articles taken from Building Design Magazine. Sorry about the length but its well worth a read.

The last laugh
28 April 2006

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/h/a/t/BDFATEXTA28.jpg

S n i g g e r all you want, but Fat's weird and wonderful Woodward Place in Manchester's New Islington has been delivered with exemplary care and manifest artistry.

By Ellis Woodman

In the run-up to this week's completion of its Woodward Place development in Manchester, Fat's media profile has risen exponentially. Practice partners, Sean Griffiths, Charles Holland and Sam Jacobs have enjoyed a string of profiles in the trade press and broadsheets. One suspects that the practice might have enjoyed the coverage rather more, however, had it not been so quick to claim them as "architectural pranksters".

While it is clearly a statutory requirement to include this term in all discussion of Fat's work I know it is a phrase that sets the partners' teeth on edge. That said, it is not hard to see where the perception comes from. Fat's reworking of material that its peers would ordinarily dismiss as unspeakable kitsch certainly harbours a humorous intent. To be more precise, Fat's sensibility is in no small part a satirical one. But against who or what is the satire directed? Certainly at the reductive world-view proffered by mainstream modernists. Fat is at war with the glib utopianism of so much architectural production of the last century.

However, as sympathetic as I am to that cause, my appreciation of the practice's output has often been hampered by the suspicion that this might not be the only target in its cross hairs. Take a project such as its entry in the 1998 Millennium Bridge competition. Doubling as a memorial to Princess Diana, it incorporated an expanse of lawn for the laying out of floral tributes and the lyrics of Elton John's Candle in the Wind 1997 carved in gigantic times roman capitals along its stone balustrades. The gleeful accommodation of popular or - let's not mince words - working-class taste was clearly intended as an assault on bourgeois aesthetic certainties. However even as a willing victim of such needling, this and other projects left me troubled. The question remained as to what Fat's feelings were towards the crowds laying the flowers in its poker-faced computer renderings. Was this monument to mawkishness not also a joke at their expense?

If the practice has previously lacked a killer rebuff to such suggestions, it surely has it now in the form of Woodward Place. This social housing scheme within the Alsop-planned New Islington development relocates 23 families from the soon-to-be-demolished Cardroom Estate. Its residents committee not only selected Fat as its architect in competition but has been intimately involved in the scheme's design through a rolling programme of consultation. Whatever jokes are at play here, the residents are in on them.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/m/x/u/BDFATPINKA28.jpg
The rendered rear elevation. The colours were specified by the residents from a pallette devised by Fat.

New Islington lies a half-mile east of Manchester City Centre. Eventually, the 31-acre site will accommodate 1,400 homes laid out around an expanded network of canals. Development was predicated on the demolition of the existing 1970s estate and the rehousing of its tenants within the new scheme. The consortium behind New Islington - which includes developer, Urban Splash, and appointed social landlord, the Manchester Methodist Housing Group - initially proposed that the Cardroom residents should be peppered throughout the new buildings. However, consultation revealed widespread resistance to the idea of moving from houses to apartments and strong support for keeping the existing community together. Accordingly, it was decided that the Cardroom families would be allocated two stand-alone projects at the north of the site. Later this year Fat's scheme will be joined by the second of these - a smaller scheme designed by DMFK Architects.

Many of the Cardroom's residents have lived on the estate since its construction almost 30 years ago. The consultation process revealed happy memories of life there until the early nineties when depopulation and high levels of crime began to blight the community. By the end of that decade only half of the 204 homes were occupied. Residents attributed a considerable part of the blame to the perforate layout of the old estate. The arrangement was widely perceived as one that laid homes open to burglary and vandalism.

Fat's scheme answers those concerns with recourse to a typology with strong roots in the north of England. The houses are laid out in two back-to-back terraces, the rear gardens of which give onto a gated alley. The scheme incorporates bungalows for the elderly and disabled and a pair of three-storey houses. However, the standard dwelling is a three-bed house arranged over two storeys. Its L-shaped plan is configured around an entrance yard scaled to allow for off-street parking. On the ground floor, the living room sits at the front with a WC in the middle of the plan and a kitchen-cum-dining room occupying the full width of each plot to the rear. Both the dining and living areas enjoy a double aspect through the introduction of secondary glazing onto the yard. Upstairs is given over to the bedrooms and a bathroom while an oriel window enlarges the landing to provide a designated place for home working.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/s/t/a/Fat-by-Grant-NI-069.jpg
The development is part of Alsop’s New Islington masterplan.

The houses have been designed in accordance with Lifetime Homes principles so the ground floor plan can effectively become a self-contained unit if residents lose mobility as they grow older. This has led to the ground floor WC being designed so that it can be adapted to serve as a wheelchair-accessible shower room, while the first floor joists have been trimmed to allow for the future installation of a lift.

The care that has gone into the planning of this layout is exemplary. But save for the staircase balustrades, which have been CNC cut with a repeated decorative motif, the interior of each house is essentially conceived as a blank canvas that residents can make their own. Fat has reserved its architectural firepower for the scheme's exterior treatment.

The L-shaped plan - which is mirrored from house to house - lends the terraces a distinctive notched profile. However, the presence of the yards is disguised from the street by a single-storey wall within which sets of folding timber doors have been located. This measure serves to tie the front facades of the houses into a continuous street elevation. It is constructed in a very different manner from the recessed walls that address the yard.

While they are finished in that staple of modernist social housing, white render, the front elevation is a riot of kaleidoscopically patterned, polychromatic brick. The pattern that has been employed - a series of super-scaled diamonds - pulses around the building with cheerful disregard for the location of door and window openings. Its scale has been gauged in relation to Woodward Place's ultimate situation within the New Islington masterplan.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/v/a/k/BDFATBACKA28.jpg
gated alley runs between the back to back terraces

When the scheme is completed, eight broadly parallel streets will run through the entire site, terminating in a 2ha waterpark at the south. Fat's building runs perpendicular to this grain and will close the vista at the north end of three of the streets. The mysterious colour changes that occur within the diamond pattern are also a response to this arrangement: they correspond to the location of the buildings to the south so that each vista is closed by a subtly different treatment.

The front facade's autonomy from the volumes it encloses is further enforced by its extension above the roofline. Like a scene from Tombstone, Arizona, the facade ascends above the building proper, cheekily suggesting something rather grander than the reality. In places this parapet accommodates dummy openings - inviting a reading of the building behind as three storeys rather than two. In others it offers cookie-cutter approximations of castellations, the gable of a Dutch canal house and even the profile of a tree.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/r/e/c/BDFATCOURTA28.jpg
View of one of the entrance yards with the oriel window that accommodates a designated work area projecting at first floor level.

The treatment of the windows and the projecting balconies below are equally associative. The scale of the first floor windows is accentuated through the introduction of white-painted surrounds. To my eyes these carried a heavy whiff of the Bavarian baroque although the architect assures me they derive from Russian timber vernacular buildings. The balconies follow the language of the internal staircases, each featuring one of a range of different decorative motifs, cut into their white painted balustrades.

This whole jumble sale of weird and wonderful material would, of course, be worth precious little were it not for the fact that Fat has organised it with such manifest artistry. While the architects' status as polemicists has never been in doubt, these elevations betray them as designers keenly attuned to questions of architectural scale and hierarchy.

This sensibility clearly owes a significant debt to Fat's spiritual grandparents, Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. Many of the formal strategies employed - the flattening, the enlarging, the use of variable scales within a single composition - are familiar from the Venturis' work. Nonetheless, the voice that emerges is very much Fat's own. The two firms may share a common ambition - to make work that is situated at once within the worlds of high architecture and popular taste - but their architecture is really as different as the contexts within which they are practicing. Seen in context, much of the oddness of the Venturis' buildings is revealed as being entirely of a piece with the nature of the American vernacular landscape.

Similarly, as shocking as Woodward Place may be within the context of current British architectural production, a visit reveals the building as a remarkably plausible proposition. The language on display is certainly no less fruity than much of 19th century Manchester - the Venetian gothic Ancoats Hospital that sits at the end of the same street being a prime example. Given the authorship of the surrounding masterplan, one can safely speculate that much of the new architecture will be no less rambunctious.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/y/s/o/BDFATSTAIRA28.jpg
The internal staircases are CNC cut in the manner of the external balustrades.

But what of the residents? Well, the ones I spoke to loved it. With ornaments on windowsills and dummy fireplaces in living rooms, they were already beginning to tune the image of their individual homes. It is a process that shows every sign of consolidating rather than detracting from the architect's design ambitions.

Crucially, as associative as the architecture may be, its myriad motifs are both sufficiently abstracted and sufficiently diverse in origin that the building resists any fixed reading. The image it presents is an open-ended and ultimately generous one - ripe for appropriation by the diverse fantasies of its users.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/r/g/j/BDFATKITCHA28.jpg
The kitchen/dining room is located at the rear of the plan.

Fat partner Charles Holland will give the first lecture of the Open House Contemporary Summer Lecture Series on May 23 at 6.30pm at Cube, 113-115 Portland Street, Manchester. Other lecturers in the series will be: Chris Wilkinson of Wilkinson Eyre on June 7; Sunand Prasad of Penoyre & Prasad on June 21; and Stephen Witherford of Witherford Watson Mann on July 5.

Woodward Place housing, New Islington, Manchester

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/Graphic/p/p/b/NewColoursiteplan.ready.gif

For this development of 23 social housing units Fat has worked closely with the residents to make a strong urban street frontage using conventional construction techniques and incorporating symbolic references to the idea of home.

New Islington is an ex-industrial area so the canals and land have had to be treated to remove contaminates. Piled foundations support ground beams and
load-bearing masonry cavity walls. The ground floor has a beam and block structure which is ventilated to the outside via telescopic vents.

The first floor and roof are timber and the roof has an aluminium sheet finish.The street facade is brick, precisely set out by the architects in a criss-cross pattern using three different coloured bricks. Timber windows are recessed with almost a full brick reveal and the variety of shapes and sizes makes a lively elevation.

The brick wall is capped by a glass reinforced plastic (GRP) parapet which swoops and dives along the street linking the Dutch gabled fronts of the houses in a continuous line. The GRP is prefabricated in 1 to 1.5m lengths and fixed to the masonry with metal clips. L-shaped steel wind posts concealed in the masonry walls and fixed into the roof structure help support the freestanding gables.

Balconies at first floor are supported by steel beams tied back to the floor structure. The balustrade is made of 150mm-wide timber planks CNC cut with a pattern and screwed to the steel structure from behind.

Jongeman

April 28th, 2006, 01:52 AM

What I make of them Sleepy is that they're bloody wonderful. I know they've had mixed plaudits, but I really can't see why. How I wished that my 1887 red brick terraced house looked like something other than yet another 1887 terraced house! Much as I love it.....

I'll read that article in full tomorrow. I've been reading project proposals at work all day today, and I can't read no more! Cheers for posting that.

rolybling

April 28th, 2006, 10:37 AM

I really like them too, I love to see colour on houses instead of just red brick and grey roofing slates. They look a million times better than anything in their vacinity.

SleepyOne

April 28th, 2006, 08:35 PM

Yes they look magnificent don't they? The attention to detail is incredible and is something all social housing projects should aspire to. So many different ideas and yet it all seems to work. Hopefully Woodward Place will prove to be an analogy for a completed New Islington.

New Islintgon seems to have taken an age to reach the point of its first phase completing on site. I can definitely say its worth the wait. Hopefully all phases will be as good as this. Perhaps someone could get some more shots? I sense now that this development is gaining momentum with the water, the park, the Ancoats Hospital site and CHIPS seeing activity. Hopefully now we will see some serious constuction activity on a number of sites now a lot of the ground work has been done or is on its way.

The Longford

April 28th, 2006, 09:14 PM

rolybling

April 28th, 2006, 09:18 PM

and we are grateful

permission to touch the hem of your garment master?

The Longford

April 28th, 2006, 09:27 PM

and we are grateful

permission to touch the hem of your garment master?

Granted!
But not all at once!
It can get awfully tiresome being adored constantly.
:master:

SleepyOne

April 28th, 2006, 10:00 PM

Well Im not surprised that someone who's taste is skewed to modernist structures turns out not to be a fan of these buildings but ultimately what they boil down to is a row of two storey terraced houses - which is as far as you get from being "gimmiky" or "pretentious".

Jongeman

April 29th, 2006, 10:23 PM

I think they are gimmicky and pretentious and will date very very badly. I dont like them one bit
BUT
they are fantastic for Manchester and something for the architectural community to take note of. They dont pander to the lowest common denominators of design and are not so arrogant as to presume what the 'public' want from their homes.
Just because i dont like them it doesnt mean that they shouldnt be applauded.
This development is a GOOD thing!

They won't date at all. They'll look exactly the same in 50 years, like mad neo-Flemish town houses, beautifully situated in precisely the wrong environment. Fantastic.

The Low Countries in particular seem to embrace the quirky and unusual. There are little bits of mad and seemingly pointless architecture dotted all around those places, and Scandinavia/Germany too.

Isn't it all brilliant?!!!

The Longford

April 29th, 2006, 10:34 PM

They won't date at all. They'll look exactly the same in 50 years, like mad neo-Flemish town houses, beautifully situated in precisely the wrong environment. Fantastic.

The Low Countries in particular seem to embrace the quirky and unusual. There are little bits of mad and seemingly pointless architecture dotted all around those places, and Scandinavia/Germany too.

Isn't it all brilliant?!!!

The examples you state are not self consciously mad but just happen to be that way because of a quirk of history. This development is so 'cool' and 'knowing' and therefore pretentious and is just plonked down - not developed organically like the examples you give.
Come on sleepy - wake up! Everybody loves these houses for exactly the reason that they NOT just a row of two storey terraced houses.
Yes i admit to being a modernistic skew but because of this i like good solid, non fussy nonsense and confection - exactly what this development is.

Dont condemn me for my opinion on this please - like i said i think this is a positive thing (we need to go out on a limb every now and again - push the envelope so to speak) i just dont like it!

Jongeman

April 29th, 2006, 10:55 PM

Fair enough

Let's face it, compared with 20 years ago, Manchester's definitely got a cool and slightly pretentious air about it. It's a lot wealthier for a start.

I'm not talking about Flemish town houses developing organically which of course, they did, or being mad which they're not, but you do sometimes you see totally kind of perverse architecture in European towns, next to all the old stuff. Damn, I can't think of a good example, but I do think there's a place for unashamedly....how can I put this.....silly and pretentious stuff too.

Let's wait for New Islington is complete to see how it works together and fits in with this bit of the city. It may stand out like a sore thumb......?

The Longford

April 29th, 2006, 11:13 PM

No examples need shlongeman!
i know what you mean!
Like this perhaps?

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/499dd67df4fdf50d7e8b42f02de00fde.jpg

Jongeman

April 29th, 2006, 11:29 PM

^^ :puke:

Yeah, that kinda stuff, maybe a bit more subtle. :)

SleepyOne

April 29th, 2006, 11:48 PM

The examples you state are not self consciously mad but just happen to be that way because of a quirk of history. This development is so 'cool' and 'knowing' and therefore pretentious and is just plonked down - not developed organically like the examples you give.
Come on sleepy - wake up! Everybody loves these houses for exactly the reason that they NOT just a row of two storey terraced houses.
Yes i admit to being a modernistic skew but because of this i like good solid, non fussy nonsense and confection - exactly what this development is.

Dont condemn me for my opinion on this please - like i said i think this is a positive thing (we need to go out on a limb every now and again - push the envelope so to speak) i just dont like it!

These buildings are in so many ways, really quite traditional. Manchester city centre is full of buildings that present a highly ornate facade to the street with plainer treatments to less prominent facades. Many of them nearly 100 years old. Woodward Place is no less fussy, self conscious or self indulgent than the likes of the St James's Buildings or Lloyds Bank. Personally I think its about time modern architecture diversified from giving us the usual pared down simplicity and clean lines (much as I find such aesthetics appealing) and indulged in decoration-for-the-sake-of-it now and again. Please don't think I am condemning your opinion. If you want to call them pretentious, fair enough. I just think its a case of things going full circle back to a traditional way of applying a facade to a building and as such I find it a breath of fresh (recycled?) air.

The Longford

April 30th, 2006, 01:01 AM

Yep sleepy you are right. i dont disagree with anything you say.
You have wisdom beyond your bedtime.

I'm not in the mood to disagree after the Rooney/Owen blindside.

Farsight

May 1st, 2006, 10:04 AM

Thank you for that information, SleepyOne.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/h/a/t/BDFATEXTA28.jpg

All: I think the front of the houses are OTT, but there are some good aspects to this scheme. Particularly when you compare them to the terraced houses in Chimneypot Park. They have room, parking spaces, colour, interest, and gardens.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/m/x/u/BDFATPINKA28.jpg

The thing is to learn from each build and change a bit here and there to make things ever righter and better. Next time can somebody design those sheds away? A projection from the back of each house would give a little patio privacy and a place to put stuff. And move the downpipes to the end of each property. Thanks.

Liam-Manchester

May 1st, 2006, 03:56 PM

They certainly make a change from row upon row of Victorian terraces. It's kind of annoying that in a city that lacks sunshine there are so many stained red brick houses- they look rather depressing in the rain (not saying it's particularly rainy in Manchester). This scheme provides colour- which is what we need more of in Manchester.

The Longford

May 3rd, 2006, 06:45 PM

From today's Grunuiad:

http://society.guardian.co.uk/communities/story/0,,1765822,00.html

SleepyOne

May 11th, 2006, 10:00 PM

Another big feature on Woodward Place. This development is certainly attractive a lot of media attention.

It's cool to be Square....

Jill Burdett

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/525.$plit/C_17_Articles_212737_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg
NEW LOOK: Islington Square

THEY have had lots of visitors at Islington Square. Since the first residents moved in last month, there has been a steady stream of people wanting to see what the first new housing in this most ambitious regeneration project looks like.

It has been designed by FAT - Fashion Architecture Taste - a London based firm currently much in vogue and credited with putting the fun back into buildings.

And, certainly, the new residents seem to be smiling. They unanimously chose the firm from a shortlist of three and their aspirations to have light, well-planned space that felt secure but not segregated has somehow been combined with FAT's distinctively quirky style to produce new homes that have already made their mark.

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Love them or hate them, there is no denying their impact and, if nothing else, it has generated international attention to show that Manchester is actually delivering on its promise to create a new millennium community in an area previously seen as a wasteland or dereliction.

And that Will Alsop's vision to transform this 29-acre site in Ancoats and eventually bring 1,400 new homes, new canal and water park, a new school and health clinic and new offices and shops to provide jobs for the local people will become a reality.

While work on privately-owned apartments, like the Chips Building, is about to begin, it is appropriate that the first completed scheme is for rent and that the residents who have lived here for decades are the first to see promises fulfilled.

Decaying

From decaying housing built in the sixties, they now have new, modern homes for the same average rent of £65 a week.

Matthew Harrison is deputy chief executive of the Manchester Methodist Housing Association, which commissioned FAT to design the 23 two, three and four- bedroom homes and said: "We are committed to developing new homes that combine top-quality design with a reinvention of traditional social housing.

"Perhaps more importantly, the people who will actually be living here were consulted from the start to give them a real sense of ownership of their finished homes. There are about 100 ex-Cardroom residents who will be coming back, and it is about accommodating this host community."

"Indeed, many now speak like architects, talking of how the front façade of the houses was "over-scaled to make it much taller, to balance the apartment block that will be built opposite".

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/927.$plit/C_17_Articles_212737_BodyWeb_Detail_1_Image.jpg
Distinctive homes

There may be a lot going on at the front of the houses, there are no front doors and you get buzzed in through the large wooden gates, which secure the drive and lead to a courtyard and front door, a system that gives a double layer of security.

At the rear, each back garden is fenced and the alley between the rows is gated at either end, making the development a self-contained whole.

Inside, the layout is simple: living room at the front, some separated by a door, some not, and a large kitchen/dining space at the back, with huge sliding doors to the garden area. Each property has a huge shed - apparently part of the eco homes specification, which deems you need somewhere to store your bike - and upstairs the bedrooms are big, some with full balconies, others with sliding doors to Juliette balconies.

Light

In the three-bed unit there are 13 windows, which means bags of light and a landing area over the porch offers space for a home office or simply a place to sit.

There is a luxurious amount of space and the MMHA and the architects have tried to adapt to people's specific wishes if planning and budgets allow, although most seem happy with the layout they have obviously helped plan.

Maria Barrett was supervising the tiling of the floor of her mum's new three-bed and she said: "I think they are lovely. I live in a block, which is not going to be demolished, and I am sad, really. I would have loved one of these. But mine is being refurbished, so I hope it will be to the same standard. My sister lives down the road and she is being re-housed in the third phase."

Work on the second phase of homes to rent, on Piercy Street, has already begun. Designed this time by De Metz Forbes Knight, it will be a mix of smaller, one two and three-bedroom houses, again with flat roofs but this time some have roof gardens.

Allocating particular plots is about to begin and they should be completed by February next year.

The developer overseeing the whole scheme is Urban Splash and director of development, Nick Johnson, said: "FAT's Islington Square is an important step for New Islington. Rehousing the residents in these generous grand new homes, they're delighted. It gets right up the nose of the architectural purists and that is exactly what we wanted.

"The critics are happy, the residents are happy and we are happy that it sets the tone for the whole area, which is looking like a very special place in the city."

Even visiting on a bleak afternoon there was a huge sense of optimism down at Islington Square, a feeling among the new residents that they were the first part of something much bigger, and so what if the exterior design may challenge some people's expectations of what inner city social housing should look like. These are their new homes and they love them.

Case study: Liam and Sandra are chuffed to be part of it

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/988.$plit/C_17_Articles_212736_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg
CHUFFED: Liam and Sandra

LIAM Ryan and his wife, Sandra, were among the first to move in to Islington Square last month and are incredibly proud of their new place.

Liam was on the steering group which liased with the architects and developers and Sandra went across to Amsterdam for the day to see house styles over there.

So they are understandably defensive about detractors of the design.

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"We have had a lot of stick about the design," said Liam. "More since they were actually built. People call it Ballymore because of the colours, or Tellytubbyland or someone said a Turkish ghetto and that upset us.

"Frankly, we love the fact that it is so distinctive. People come here just to have a look at our houses and they are talking about them. One journalist insinuated that FAT had been taking the mick out of us, but the truth is we got what we wanted.

Surprised

"They were pleasantly surprised - if not go-smacked I think - that a group of residents, many in their fifties and sixties, were so enthusiastic and just said go for it!

"We did resist some things; they wanted to put reminders of the old mills around the top, but we said no. They were bad old days, and if we want to be reminded of the mills we can just look out of the window."

They love the light and the space inside, opting for a total open plan option downstairs, and a balcony off the main bedroom from where they can see city landmarks like Beetham tower. And they love the feeing of security and how the old community has suddenly re-emerged.

Liam said: "We were moved out to Clayton for 12 months because of the demolition noise but couldn't wait to get back.

"We have lived here 23 years and we like being able to sit in the living room at the front and see people we know walk by."

So, has it all gone smoothly? "It has been a bumpy road at times," admits Liam, "and I don't think they always thought of everything, like where the kids can play, but what has kept us going is knowing what it will be like in 10 years time with the lake and the new school and everything. It is going to be a special place and we are really chuffed to be part of it."

Jerv

May 11th, 2006, 11:25 PM

So naff and too expensive (to build)

Farsight

May 12th, 2006, 02:07 AM

Maybe the next lot will be less naff. I think the fronts look silly, but when I look past that at the actual houses I think they're pretty good actually. Imagine if the fronts were pastel shades rather primadonna dramaqueen. Could be something.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/m/x/u/BDFATPINKA28.jpg

Sir Miles Platting

May 12th, 2006, 02:42 AM

^^ nice pastel shades. Lilac and Vomit go together so well....

SleepyOne

May 13th, 2006, 05:55 PM

New Islington - Modern Architecture's melting pot!

So here's another image of the fabulous Islington Square scheme (old name - Woodford Place) from Property Week.

Islington Square
http://www.property-week.co.uk/Pictures/web/r/u/b/19_p55_new_islington.jpg
Islington Square, the first scheme to be built at Manchester's Millennium Community New Islington, reaches completion this month. The 23-home social housing scheme was designed by architect FAT for the Manchester Methodist Housing Association for tenants of the former Cardroom Estate. Unusually, the tenants were involved in the design process and some were taken to Amsterdam to ‘widen their perspective of what is possible'.

Here's the second phase of social housing indicating a much more sober and pared down aesthetic by De Metz architects. This is supposed to be commencing on site soon.

Piercy Street
http://i2.tinypic.com/zksrcg.jpg

Here are some (poor) images of a further phase of New Islington called The Tree House (or The Botanic) which is a joint venture between Urban Splash and Taylor Woodrow. This is the first of the so called 'finger' plots to be developed, this one being nearest Redhill Street and the Royal Mills side of the site. Shed KM are the architects here for this scheme of 200+ 1,2 and 3 bed apartments and ground floor commercial use. 7 storeys and it is to be clad in timber and glass.

The Tree House (Profile)
http://i3.tinypic.com/zl29z7.jpg

Plan view showing cerrated arrangement of apartments and curved podium
http://i2.tinypic.com/zl2ahi.jpg

Ariel view showing location of block within New Islington development
http://i1.tinypic.com/zl2b9t.jpg

SleepyOne

May 13th, 2006, 05:59 PM

'Chips' by Will Alsop is also commencing on site according to this press release from the English Partnerships website. Can anyone confirm?

http://images.primelocation.com/URBNGR/images/URBN999000112.JPG

http://images.primelocation.com/URBNGR/images/URBN999000112A.JPG

http://images.primelocation.com/URBNGR/images/URBN999000112B.JPG

Background
The New Islington Millennium Community is a £250m development on a 12.5 ha (29 acre) site at Ancoats, East Manchester. It was the third Millennium Community to be identified as part of English Partnerships’ national programme.

The development site includes the former Cardroom Estate, which was built in the late 1970s. By the 1990s, the estate’s community was suffering the effects of massive depopulation, poor services and high levels of crime. Only half the 204 homes were occupied when the site was identified for development as a Millennium Community.

English Partnerships is working alongside New East Manchester (an Urban Regeneration Company), lead developer Urban Splash, Manchester City Council, the Housing Corporation and Great Places Housing Group, as well as the local community to develop the new vision, which is to reinvent the previously neglected and rundown estate with cutting-edge architecture, new waterways and new housing.

Getting the site ready for development has involved work to remove chemical and metal by-products left over from former canal-side industries. This has taken place on-site and materials have been cleaned and reused where possible, meaning less waste has been sent to landfill.

In total there will be 1,400 new homes (including affordable housing) alongside commercial space for new shops, pubs, restaurants, cafes, bars and a number of facilities, which will include a new canal and water park, a primary school and a state-of-the-art primary health clinic.

Current Status
The first phase of 23 affordable new homes at Islington Square is nearing completion. These new homes were designed by competition winners FAT Architects (Fashion Architecture Taste) alongside the residents.

Building work is underway on 14 new homes at the second phase of affordable housing on Piercy Street, designed by competition winners De Metz Architects.

Urban Splash, has started work on refurbishing the listed Ancoats Hospital Dispensary building into 12 apartments, which were designed by Ian Simpson Architects.

Work is commencing at the Alsop-designed "Chips" building. This will comprise a further 142 new apartments, some of which will be available under an affordable shared equity scheme, agreed by the partners. Altogether, the number of homes currently under construction is more than 160.

Taylor Woodrow has recently received planning permission for their development "The Botanic", which will add a further 202 new homes (a mix of 1-3 bed apartments and commercial space) when they start on site.

The existing Old Mill Street has been realigned, with traffic calming measures incorporated, alongside uniquely designed street furniture. The completion of this street has allowed work to recently commence on the state-of-the-art primary health clinic.

Construction of the Water Park is rapidly progressing; this 4-acre centrepiece of New Islington will provide a vibrant green leisure space for the local community and create a haven for the area’s wildlife. The new waterways will comprise of 3km of canal side, public gardens and an orchard all connected by bridges, containing 7m gallons of water, moorings for narrow boats and other facilities

Mez

May 13th, 2006, 08:12 PM

I am the only person in the world who thinks this whole thing looks like shite? It's gonna look soooooooo dated in ...not even ten years.

The Longford

May 13th, 2006, 08:19 PM

I am the only person in the world who thinks this whole thing looks like shite?

No!
I think you'll find ive said as much on many occasions!
:wallbash:

Mez

May 13th, 2006, 08:28 PM

Lets start a petition to nuke it then. Or sabotage City's windturbine, point it west and blow the shitty lot away towards Liverpool. They'll be made of cardboard no doubt.

Mez

May 13th, 2006, 08:29 PM

No offence to my FA cup holding neighbours. ;)

SleepyOne

May 13th, 2006, 09:04 PM

I think the completed development will be magnificent. When so many developments seem to be using the same firms of architects its refreshing that Urban Splash are taking risks and commissioning bold pieces of architecture from firms that have not until now been represented in the city (aside from Shed KM).

It brings new ideas to the city and challenges preconceived ideas. How many times have you looked at a building or a particular feature and it seems like you have seen something similar a hundred times before? Surely there is another way? By commissioning such bold architecture, Urban Splash are demonstrating that you dont have to go down the tried and tested route - that commercial doesn't have to mean conservative; that family housing doesn't have to mean mock tudor and that apartments blocks doesnt have to mean boring red brick and white render. Of course this is not necessarily new to Manchester but there are still too many unimaginative buildings-by-numbers going up in the city, the same handful of architects getting most of the commissions and the same ideas being recycled. Thank goodness then for New Islington for shaking things up a bit. My only concern as I have previously stated is with all these different ideas going on, will the whole development hang together? Can we trust Will Alsop's development framework to deliver something coherent at the end of the day? Time will tell......

Mez

May 13th, 2006, 09:17 PM

All of what you have said sounds completetly fair sleepy, it's just; I think the buildings look absolutely crap and more importantly cheap.

Cheap as chips

BeardedGenius

May 13th, 2006, 09:19 PM

SleepyOne

May 13th, 2006, 09:27 PM

Don't forget that only one phase as actually been constructed thus far. I think its rather premature to write off the whole project as being "shite"!! That level of love, care and attention to detail evident in Islington Square doesn't come cheap which is all the more remarkable considering that it is a social housing project! How many housing association properties have you seen that look like that? I really think New Islington will be something to be proud of.

jrb

May 19th, 2006, 09:12 PM

The New Islington site from the air.

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/d/1537-1/_MG_9331.jpg

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/d/1405-1/_MG_9261.jpg

Jongeman

May 19th, 2006, 09:31 PM

there are still too many unimaginative buildings-by-numbers going up in the city, the same handful of architects getting most of the commissions and the same ideas being recycled. Thank goodness then for New Islington for shaking things up a bit.

Sometimes I look at some (not all) of our new amorphous-generic-architectural-product and think that it's going to be sooo bland in a decade's time. That's why New Islington is good, sadly hidden by a load of unfortunate retail sheds.

The Longford

May 19th, 2006, 09:33 PM

Is there anyone out there who, like me, is slightly uneasy about re opening long abandoned canal arms.
Interesting from an historical point of view but it is simply that - history!
They have no relevance today and it seems they are being reopened simply to 'add value' to resi developments.
Come on all you anti-chimney, 'remnants of a sorry past' brigade - back me up on this!

Jongeman

May 19th, 2006, 09:52 PM

Yeah course they serve no purpose, but it's nice looking out onto water. I'm assuming that canal arms in New Islington are linked up to the greater canal system and that you can barge your way from Rochdale/Stalybridge/Droylsden and the Cheshire ring right into the centre of town - not that many people ever would.

It probably does add value to resi developments, and anything that helps the liveability (and salability?) of these places has got to be good.

b4mmy

May 19th, 2006, 11:13 PM

Latic

May 20th, 2006, 11:54 AM

Farsight

May 22nd, 2006, 01:59 AM

Water is nice, Longford. That's why I dug a pond in my garden, and why I chose to live by the sea. There's something primal about it. But if you've never experienced it maybe you don't know what I mean. Ask somebody who lives near water.

The Longford

May 22nd, 2006, 01:13 PM

Northbeach

May 22nd, 2006, 01:43 PM

Barge stuck in Sandbanks perhaps? :)

kids

May 22nd, 2006, 04:32 PM

One thing i think Manchester lacks is cooky architecture and New Islington has an abundance of off the wall designs. Can't wait.

Craig

May 23rd, 2006, 10:59 AM

Yeah - i know all about that primal stuff and i kinda understand it but dont get it myself.
My point is that opening old canal arms is a bit meaningless and only done to 'add value'.
Been away btw Faraway?

Maybe this is just a technical point but New Iz is not reopening old canal arms but creating a brand new waterway (not just a canal) between the Rochdale and Ashton Canals.

Farsight

May 23rd, 2006, 07:08 PM

I've been real busy, Longford. There's been a lot on recently, at both work and home.

SleepyOne

June 21st, 2006, 10:09 PM

Stephenson-Bell's pier-like health centre (LIFT) starting construction at New Islington.

New medical centre for east Manchester

Construction work has started on a £6.5 million state-of-the-art medical centre in New Islington, Manchester’s Millennium Community in east Manchester. The 24,500 sq ft facility, across two floors, will be one of the largest health clinics in Manchester. It is designed to serve the existing population of Ancoats, and the city centre dwellers on the east side of the city as well as the new and existing communities of New Islington, Miles Platting and Holt Town Waterfront where in excess of 7, 000 new homes are planned.

http://www.stephenson-bell.com/web-data/Components/70303.jpg

The clinic, to be located on Old Mill Street, near the site of the former hospital, overlooking the new water park currently being built in New Islington, is designed by leading Manchester architects, Stephenson Bell. The new facility will replace the current Ancoats clinic and will house together two of the area’s key GP practices. Other services will include minor injuries, family planning, podiatry, mental health services and a pharmacy.

“The new facility will mean our health care staff can provide the most modern and up to date services for people and really help people to live healthier lives. For too long, residents in this part of Manchester have experienced some of the worst health and we want to change this” said David King, Chief Executive of North Manchester PCT.

Richard Groome, Chief Executive of MaST LIFT Co., added: “This world class health centre has been made possible by true partnership working. Regeneration, strategic thinking and excellence in construction have all come together to produce a facility that Manchester will be proud of.”

Tom Russell, chief executive of New East Manchester Ltd said: “This will truly be a clinic for the millennium. The population of east Manchester is growing and developing at a rapid pace. We are building 12,500 new homes in the wider east Manchester area so it is essential we continue to meet the health care needs of this diverse and changing population. This modern medical centre will play a key part in the physical and social regeneration of east Manchester.”

The centre is due to completed by October 2007.

This health centre is part of the ongoing LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust) programme to reform primary care health services in Manchester, Salford and Trafford. The capital funding is provided by ExcellCare, a joint venture between Equion, a division of John Laing plc and Bank of Scotland and the PCT will pay the revenue funding. The centres will be managed and staffed by North Manchester Primary Care NHS Trust. The clinic will be built by Laing O’Rourke and is due to open late next year.

The health centre is in New Islington, Manchester’s Millennium Community, which in turn is one of English Partnerships’ seven Millennium Communities but the centre will serve a much wider population. New Islington is a partnership between national regeneration agency English Partnerships, Urban Splash and New East Manchester Ltd together with appointed social landlord, Manchester Methodist Housing Group. The 29 acre site, just east of Manchester city centre is being radically transformed to a strategic and ambitious vision created by Will Alsop. As well as the health centre, a new canal and water park, over 1730 new homes, office space, a school, shops, bars and restaurants are planned to be created, using the world’s best architecture.

For more information visit www.neweastmanchester.com.

b4mmy

June 22nd, 2006, 12:11 AM

nice one, its important to keep the momentum going at NI I think.

SleepyOne

August 8th, 2006, 11:22 PM

Firstly some publicity from Urban Splash...

ARTS AND CULTURE - NEW ISLINGTON FESTIVAL, MANCHESTER

We're making massive progress at New Islington, the water park is being filled, the trees are planted, the clever boxes to attract lots of different types of wildlife are all in and so to celebrate this from 12 noon to 8pm on Saturday 2 September, the New Islington Festival will take place. There will be lots of live music, artists, street performance, folk boats, top notch refreshments, loads of stuff for kids to do and lots of surprises. It's free! Just turn up on the day.

In addition....

There's also a tower crane gone up on the site of Will Alsop's 'CHIPS' apartment block

The Stephenson-Bell designed LIFT health centre has started construction.

The second phase of social housing at Piercy Street by DMFK has also started construction which last month won a Housing Design Award.

Press Release 31/07/2006 | Manchester Methodist Housing Association scoops design award for new terrace development

http://i5.tinypic.com/242ecno.jpg
PIERCEY STREET, NEW ISLINGTON

Manchester Methodist Housing Association (MMHA) - part of Great Places Housing Group - has won a prestigious award for its housing for rent development in east Manchester.

The Piercy Street scheme, the second phase of social housing in New Islington, Manchester’s Millennium Community, was announced as a Project winner at The Housing Design Awards 2006, which aim to promote excellence and sustainability in home design.

Developed by MMHA, the 14 homes have been designed by de Metz Forbes Knight Architects Ltd (DMFK) in close consultation with MMHA and the residents who will eventually live in the homes.

The houses, funded by MMHA and with £1.4m Social Housing Grant from The Housing Corporation, are based on a traditional terrace, and are a mixture of one and two-storey buildings featuring private front and rear courtyards and a choice of two and three bedroom properties.

The kitchens have views from the front to the back of the house and the kitchen, dining room and living room are open plan. The living room overlooks a garden terrace and those houses with two storeys have access to a terrace from the first floor.

Work started on site in April 2006, and is expected to be complete by Spring 2007.

The homes, which have achieved an EcoHomes rating of Excellent, are part of New Islington, Manchester’s Millennium Community, which in turn is one of English Partnerships’ seven Millennium Communities.

New Islington is a partnership between national regeneration agency English Partnerships, Urban Splash and New East Manchester Ltd together with appointed social landlord, Manchester Methodist Housing Association.

The 29 acre site, in New East Manchester on the edge of the city centre is being radically transformed to a strategic and ambitious vision created by Will Alsop. A new canal and water park, 1734 new homes, office space, a school, a health clinic, shops, bars and restaurants are planned to be created, using the worlds best architecture.

The Housing Design Awards are sponsored by the Government’s Department for Communities and Local Government and were presented by Secretary of State Ruth Kelly in London. They are promoted by the National House-Building Council, Royal Institute of British Architecture and the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Finally here's nice picture of the now complete first phase of social housing within the development, Woodward Place by FAT architects. Picture by Aiden O'Rourke.
http://i2.tinypic.com/242ebk7.jpg
WOODWARD PLACE, NEW ISLINGTON

Jerv

August 8th, 2006, 11:34 PM

What, no graffiti yet?

High-Fi

August 8th, 2006, 11:41 PM

It's a completely different story behind Aidan's back - is all that going?

The Longford

August 9th, 2006, 12:25 AM

What, no graffiti yet?
No but i notice a satellite dish though! :scouserd:

High-Fi

August 9th, 2006, 12:29 AM

Two! - was there no covenant?

Farsight

August 9th, 2006, 02:56 PM

You'd think architects and builders would think about satellite dishes up front.

And, squinting down that street, about wheelie bins. Mind you, I've got three wheelie bins now. One is black for normal rubbish. One is blue for recyclable stuff, and the other is green for garden stuff. Bleedin' ridiculous.

Isaac Newell

August 9th, 2006, 03:02 PM

We're not allowed dishes on the front (or back) of our flats, we can only stick them on the chimney.

Jongeman

August 11th, 2006, 06:06 PM

A I allowed to use this thread to try and trap off? :)

I haven't got a lot to add to the dishes/bin debate, so this will have to do.

Today I went to have a gander at New Islington, walked down the canal and got talking to a bloke called Jason. I don't think he was there purely for artitectural appreciation purposes, let's say.

We took our leave, and he went wandering round town whilst waiting for his car to be repaired near the stadium. I went to Argos to have a look at camping lights (with campingaz bottles)

Anyway, Jason seemed to know a bit about New Islington and the canal plans, so there's the minutest chance the lovely Jason might be reading this.....and if so...... :yes:

Yet another spectacular wasted opportunity! :bash:

Jerv

August 11th, 2006, 06:28 PM

I don't understand the above. At least I don't want to understand it.

Sir Miles Platting

August 11th, 2006, 08:45 PM

^^ ditto. I thought there were designated areas in town for 'cruising', like cANAL sTREET..... :)

jrb

August 15th, 2006, 07:52 PM

Taken today.

New Islingtons new Canals. Shows just how wide and deep the new canals are. Nice islands aswell.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture294.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture297.jpg

Crane just gone up across the way.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture293.jpg

New Islington Health Clinic going up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture296.jpg

highriser

August 15th, 2006, 08:14 PM

its looking great ,, cant wait for it to be filled with water.

Irish Blood English Heart

August 15th, 2006, 10:51 PM

I never knew that was so far along, looks fantastic

Farsight

August 16th, 2006, 01:51 AM

Surely does. I hope they don't put in so much kooky stuff here that it spoils it.

Craig

August 16th, 2006, 02:02 PM

its looking great ,, cant wait for it to be filled with water.

Well my suggestion is don't wait - this should be happening in the next couple of days.

Architecty

August 16th, 2006, 02:10 PM

Wow really have cracked on, seemed to be doing nothing for so long after the initial digging. Bring on the too much kookyness ! (and the recking ball for the retail park, anyone know who owns it ?)

Craig

August 18th, 2006, 01:44 PM

Water is now going in - this is the last chance to see it 'dry'.

jrb

August 28th, 2006, 06:38 PM

Taken today.

I was stood/sat next to the canal for 10 minutes and I couldn't hear any noise at all.(cars, buses, etc) Infact the only noise I could hear was coming from the water in the canal.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture305.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture304.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture306.jpg

Potato Man

August 28th, 2006, 10:59 PM

Wow. That's amazing. Thanks jrb

Anybody not familiar with the buildings in those photos would swear it's taken in a proper seafaring town. Almost has a Liverpudlian quality about it. Great.

I'd like to hope we will see some active use of the canal in years to come. Castlefield is great, but is letdown by underuse of the water and the often overgrown footpaths, particularly in the peripheral loading bays and inlets.

Personally I think it would be great to see some well looked after permanent moorings in the city. Proper house boats like this to help solve some of the problems we have over in castlefield.

http://www.apolloduck.com/image_bin/35768_1.jpg
http://www.apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=35768

jrb

August 29th, 2006, 08:10 PM

New Islington 'family' festival this Saturday.

The New Islington Festival is a celebration of the creation of Manchester’s newest and hippest place.

New Islington, Manchester’s Millennium Community is one of national regeneration agency English Partnerships’ seven Millennium Communities. New Islington is in east Manchester and is a partnership between English Partnerships, Urban Splash and New East Manchester Ltd together with appointed social landlord, Manchester Methodist Housing Association.

The 29 acre site is being radically transformed to a strategic and ambitious vision created by Will Alsop. A new canal and water park have been built and over 1700 new homes, office space, a school, a health centre, shops, bars and restaurants. For more information on New Islington click here.

The Festival is for everyone and features a fusion of up and coming folk acts, famous Manchester headliners, Manchester’s finest DJs, cutting edge art installations by the City’s best urban artists and the best street entertainers in Europe.

Talent from across the city will be showcased throughout the day. There’ll be plenty for families and kids with free art workshops, an art competition focussing on urban youth art styles and the Spurting Man will host a surreal and entertaining family show. For younger visitors the Herbie the Treehead Dinosaur Show will bring the Jurassic age to life.

The main stage, which is on one of the Water Park's islands hosts live music all afternoon concluding in an explosive firework finale.

The New Islington Festival will surprise and delight you. Get on your dancing shoes and check out the full line up and activities for the day.

http://www.newislington.co.uk/festival/about.asp

The Longford

August 30th, 2006, 12:39 AM

Excuse my ignorance on this matter, but just wondered if anyone knows what came first: Islington in Central Salford or Islington in Manchester?

Don't know if it matters or not, but it seems odd that they both have the same name (the Salford Islington estate is apparently very rough?)

Islington (from the derivation Isling Town) is quite common across the country. Isling is a surname - from the Norse i believe. It is quite unusual to find two so close together though but although i must admit to not knowing for certain i suspect the two areas are linked in some way. Either they were once all one area and have been split up over time or both pockets of land belonged to the same Isling or members of the same Isling family.
Just speculating but if i find out otherwise i will let you know.

rolybling

August 30th, 2006, 10:08 AM

jrb

August 30th, 2006, 10:18 AM

Ooo thanks for these jerbers, it's really starting to take shape around there isn't it. Must have a butchers myself, how do I get to this new canal?

If your heading out of Manchester along Great Ancoats, turn left after the retail park. ISIS is just to your right. If your heading into Manchester along Great Ancoats turn right at the set of traffic lights opposite the ISIS development. The retail park is slightly further up on the opposite side of the road. Carry on up the road and you'll see the rusting crazy lampposts, take a sharp right and park your car along that road. Unfortunately you can't access the site yet. But you get a good view of the canal, etc.

rolybling

August 30th, 2006, 06:34 PM

Thanks jerb, I'll have a wander down there soon.

highriser

August 30th, 2006, 07:54 PM

I'll get in trouble one day peeping over fence's :)

CHIPS site today

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1034.jpg

Some demolition going on today , in between CHIPS and Islington Wharf ,, do we know whats going here ?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1033.jpg

utd82

August 31st, 2006, 12:05 AM

A shot of the filling process from last week

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7025/nislington1nu3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

High-Fi

August 31st, 2006, 12:17 AM

A shot of the filling process from last week
Is that ladder for the bloke that was stood in there last week? Did nobody tell him?

Some demolition going on today , in between CHIPS and Islington Wharf ,, do we know whats going here ?
Damn, that was one of my fovourite buildings in Manchester!

jrb

September 4th, 2006, 10:15 PM

Seems to have been quite quite a success despite the miserable weather.
Did anyone make it?

Super park makes a big splash

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/588.$plit/C_17_Articles_222341_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

PARK LIFE: Fireworks show.

THOUSANDS of revellers braved the rain to party in Manchester's newest park.

The New Islington Festival party was held by property developers Urban Splash to give residents a flavour of what the park, off Great Ancoats Street, will look like when it opens next year.

The park, which will include a canal and a lake, is part of a massive regeneration of Ancoats, which will include more than 1,400 houses, offices, a school, a clinic, and shops and bars.

The crowds were entertained throughout the day by local bands and DJs, and a host of art events. Children helped to make floating lanterns, which were set on the lake during the spectacular climactic fireworks display.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/864.$plit/C_17_Articles_222341_BodyWeb_Detail_1_Image.jpg

ROWER: Fun day out.Street performers

And some of Europe's top street performers helped to keep the crowd entertained.

One reveller said: "It was really great that so many people made it out on such a wet day. The residents from Ancoats were treated like real V.I.Ps."

Nick Johnson, of Urban Splash, said: "We are creating a whole new community. We wanted to hold an event, which we hope will become an annual thing, to reflect the spirit of New Islington."

"We want it to be the best place in Manchester and we want the festival to celebrate that."

Submit your comments

utd82

September 6th, 2006, 01:26 PM

Yesterday (beautiful day...)
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/961/newislingtonbh3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9317/newislington2hy3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/1443/newislington3dz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Manchester Planner

October 15th, 2006, 08:46 PM

http://www.pichotel.com/pic/4750g5mlQ/77787.jpg

http://www.pichotel.com/pic/4750g5mlQ/77788.jpg

:)

SleepyOne

October 21st, 2006, 04:14 PM

Stephenson-Bell's new Ancoats medical centre. Entrance of Old Mill St, with one arm of the centre extended out over the new canal arm. Very nice.

http://www.stephenson-bell.com/mi703.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/47vpc1l.jpg

ancoats medical

2007 - expected completion

The new one stop primary healthcare facility is core to the development of New Islington and its design and setting reflect the key design parameters of the master plan. The context at present does not exist in its intended final form. The building has therefore been designed within a virtual site.

The main accommodation suite of areas provided is as follows: Main reception area and waiting, 3 GP practices, General clinic and multi-purpose suite, Community pharmacy, Leisure unit (retail), Dental services facility, Community space/meeting rooms, General purpose interview room facility and staff facilities. The accommodation is located on 3 floors (gross external area approx 2300m2), with the principle health care accommodation located at the ground and first floors and a basement plant level and principally situated off the new back of pavement line to Old Mill Street at the junction with Vesta Street. The area of the site behind encompasses both secure public and staff parking facilities serving the healthcare facility and an access road off Old Mill Street to serve the designated facilities of the health centre and the New Islington Master plan. Although located on raised ground, where the building acts as a marker in the landscape of the Master plan, principle level access is achieved to the main entrance doors.

SleepyOne

November 12th, 2006, 02:33 PM

Thanks to Chasedwar for these.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/DSC02034.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/DSC02025.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/DSC02024.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/DSC02033.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/DSC02019.jpg

Two tower cranes now up for Alsop's magnificent CHIPS building.

This sits behind the ISIS Islington Wharf development. One of the tower cranes can be seen in Chasedwar's final two photos, above.

http://www.martinstockleyassociates.co.uk/images/portfolio_images/chips_02.jpg

highriser

November 12th, 2006, 07:26 PM

Really looking forward to seeing CHIPS go up ,, when i first saw it i hated it.

There is a model of CHIPS on the ground floor of Timber Wharf in Castlefeild. .

Jongeman

November 12th, 2006, 11:55 PM

Really looking forward to seeing CHIPS go up ,, when i first saw it i hated it.

There's already quite a chilled atmosphere in Piccadilly Basin. Have you noticed that? New Islington will just add to it. I love the slightly quirky plans for New Islington. It's a bit of a shame about Central Retail Park being in the way.

kids

November 16th, 2006, 01:58 PM

Spotted some construction pics on flickr, looks like they were taken from the royal mills (?)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/apollo_arch/sets/72157594378595721/

skymann

November 18th, 2006, 12:01 PM

Had an estate agent round to value my flat near Victoria and I asked what area of town is selling the best. He said for buy to let it's the Green Quarter, but in second place for buy to let and in first place (by a mile) for owner occupiers is Ancoats, New Islington and adjacent areas of Piccadilly. He said owners loved the converted warehouses, Factoriies and mill buildings and the new build like CHIPS and Islington wharf, Gravity (and presumably Eastgate too) were of a better standard. Go East young man he said!! May well do that when I've sold my Alty house too.

I know estate agents go on special courses for bullshitting, but what he said seemed to make a lot of sense. Plus those pictures of the new marina (or whatever it's supposed to be) in New Islington really changes the whole area. It's like a Castlefield with curves. I think this is THE area of the expanded city centre that people will wanna move to.

highriser

November 19th, 2006, 03:05 PM

The CHIPS site ,

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1113.jpg?t=1163945085

SleepyOne

December 9th, 2006, 04:29 PM

revised application for Taylor Woodrow / Shedkm's proposals for their site within New Islington

081529/FO/2006/N1

Plots J And K, Union Street Bridge Site, New Islington

Erection of a six storey building comprising 200 residential units (73 No. x 1 bed, 102 No. x 2 bed and 25 No. x 3 bed) and commercial units at ground floor level (560 sqm in total) (Use Classes A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,B1,D1,D2) (revised application)

SleepyOne

December 9th, 2006, 05:57 PM

skymann

December 10th, 2006, 05:41 PM

Another exciting proposal seems to be in the offing for New Islington.

This time its Dutch architects, Mecanoo with a development named 'Hoola' with the design "influenced by the shape of hoola hoops". Due to be submitted later this year with a start on site in 2007.

http://i13.tinypic.com/2mfx010.jpg

Looks nice and 30s with all the curved corners. Hard to really tell from the render, but the design looks interesting to say the least. Can't wait to see a proper render.

Farsight

December 11th, 2006, 01:59 PM

Yep, looks good does that. Thanks SleepyOne.

Architecty

December 11th, 2006, 02:42 PM

Mecanoo = The Bollocks
http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=Mecanoo&ndsp=18&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-31,GGLJ:en-GB&start=0&sa=N

skymann

December 11th, 2006, 05:25 PM

Mecanoo = The Bollocks
http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=Mecanoo&ndsp=18&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-31,GGLJ:en-GB&start=0&sa=N

Their stuff certainly loads bollocks from that link, but the design in Manchester looks good (to someone who loves the curves and style of ArtDecco at least). We need to see the proper render really.

BeardedGenius

December 11th, 2006, 08:27 PM

Their stuff certainly loads bollocks from that link, but the design in Manchester looks good (to someone who loves the curves and style of ArtDecco at least). We need to see the proper render really.

I assume Archie was referring to the dog's bollocks, i.e. they're the business...

kids

December 11th, 2006, 08:41 PM

These guys are top. And their hoola project looks promisingly mint, let's hope they stick around and give us some more lovelies.

spacepostman

December 15th, 2006, 04:31 PM

http://www.radford.edu/~gmartin/Bangla%2010.jpg
http://www.radford.edu/~gmartin/Bangla%207.jpg

majormystery

December 15th, 2006, 04:43 PM

Don't those pics belong in the Hulme thread?:)

majormystery

December 15th, 2006, 04:44 PM

Oh, on second thoughts its Sarah tower isnt it.

spacepostman

December 15th, 2006, 04:49 PM

Don't those pics belong in the Hulme thread?:)

Not sure why you'd say that, I mean.... Hulme doesn't have houses built on stilts built a poluted canal.
:nuts:

BeardedGenius

December 15th, 2006, 04:50 PM

What's Appartementen The Elephants?

http://www.mecanoo.com/html_project.php?PKY_OBJECTOID=296&taal=NL&ILL=1

jrb

December 19th, 2006, 09:05 PM

081529/FO/2006/N1

Urban Splash / Shedkm

Plots J And K
Union Street Bridge Site
New Islington

Erection of a six storey building comprising 200 residential units (73 No. x 1 bed, 102 No. x 2 bed and 25 No. x 3 bed) and commercial units at ground floor level (560 sqm in total) (Use Classes A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,B1,D1,D2) (revised application)

http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=J9LL15BC62000

SleepyOne

December 19th, 2006, 09:18 PM

Thanks jrb. Yes that is a revised application for 'The Tree House', images of which I posted a while back (see post number 126). Nice to see another development in the area featuring a substantial proportion of large 2 bed-duplex and 3 bed apartments.

Here are some (poor) images of a further phase of New Islington called The Tree House (or The Botanic) which is a joint venture between Urban Splash and Taylor Woodrow. This is the first of the so called 'finger' plots to be developed, this one being nearest Redhill Street and the Royal Mills side of the site. Shed KM are the architects here for this scheme of 200+ 1,2 and 3 bed apartments and ground floor commercial use. 7 storeys and it is to be clad in timber and glass.

The Tree House (Profile)
http://i3.tinypic.com/zl29z7.jpg

Plan view showing cerrated arrangement of apartments and curved podium
http://i2.tinypic.com/zl2ahi.jpg

Ariel view showing location of block within New Islington development
http://i1.tinypic.com/zl2b9t.jpg

Craig

December 20th, 2006, 03:11 PM

I'm not a big fan of Botanic, apart from the apartment sizes which are welcome, and personally think ShedKM are a bit overrated. Love Mecanoo though...

skymann

December 20th, 2006, 08:58 PM

Gordon Bennet - these aren't what the master plan envisioned. I know the 'The Tree House' is a very poor image but it looks more like a multi-storey car park or Fort Beswick as was. What is it with Manchester and crappy designs all of a sudden?? Greengate, the Odeon site, this. Have architects forgotten how to design or are they getting six formers to design their buildings for them. I think someone else said, we're in danger of copying a second rate Latin American city if we're not careful. If designs like this, the Odeon and Greengate (oh and that vile design for the Peugout dealership on Chester Rd) start being built in Manchester, our great city's rejuvenation will soon come to a halt and it'll get a reputation like Birmingham has of an ugly concrete disaster zone - a national joke (no disrepect to B'hm coz I know they're trying to change this but it still does have that reputation and we don't want Manchester to end up with the same reputation).

Farsight

December 21st, 2006, 05:34 PM

skymann

December 21st, 2006, 05:38 PM

Wow, it does look like a multi storey car park now you mention it. I guess those serrations mean it won't in practice and that's just a bad render. And I guess that means realistic renders is what I want - see render thread.

I know Farsight - we really need to see a proper render and keep our fingers crossed it doesn't look like a multi storey car park

SleepyOne

January 16th, 2007, 11:39 PM

Urban Splash launches trio of competitions with Manchester bridge contest

http://www.ajplus.co.uk/Images/Articles/160107_URBANSPLASH_MAIN.jpg

Urban Splash has revealed the first of three major competitions planned for 2007 by launching a contest for a new bridge in its New Islington development in Manchester.

..

Manchester Planner

January 16th, 2007, 11:42 PM

How about a chain ferry? :crazy:

kids

January 16th, 2007, 11:55 PM

Brilliant - Urban splash. competitions. bridge. can't beat that line up.

BeardedGenius

January 17th, 2007, 10:38 AM

I love competitions - it allows the likes of Mecanoo to come to the table with something special...

jrb

January 17th, 2007, 03:59 PM

Whoooo! :drool:

Span-tastic - new bridge design contest

Jill Burdett

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/79.$plit/C_17_Articles_233435_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

CONTEST: Design a bridge

THE ambitious search is on for a team of architects and engineers to design and deliver a new footbridge over the Rochdale Canal in east Manchester to link the mills and warehouses of Ancoats urban Village and New Islington.

The footbridge, for pedestrians only, will go over the canal just beyond Waulk Mill (at the back right of this picture) to the new housing being built on the opposite bank.

It will be paid for by English Partnerships, but in the meantime the main priority is to find a stunning design that works.

"We've heard the debates on whether architects or engineers should design bridges," said Nick Johnson, deputy chief executive, Urban Splash.

"And we've also seen how sometimes the reality doesn't live up to the sleek models and drawings! We want this bridge to be something special, something which will work.

"We're looking for consortia capable of producing the full picture - aesthetics and engineering. We just want a fantastic bridge

"New Islington is about ambition, it's about setting your standards high then beating them some," said Nick.

International recognition

"We've already seen the results of other competitions for the project win awards and international recognition - the bridge we get from this competition will do so too."

Open competitions have attracted some of the most exciting design teams from across the UK and the world to New Islington. The bridge competition will be the sixth since the Millennium Community project was announced in 2000.

Urban Splash was appointed lead developer through a competition, as was Will Alsop's strategic framework plan for the 29 acre site, FAT's Islington Square houses, DeMetz Forbes Knight's homes, which are due for completion this spring; Grant Associates' vibrant landscape and public realm; Taylor Woodrow and shedkm's Botanic scheme which is due to start on site this year.

The bridge competition is being organised by RIBA with the support of the Institute of Civil Engineers, together with partners from New Islington and the judges, including Urban Splash boss Tom Bloxham, who will be looking for something both beautiful and practical.

The competition will be in two stages.

Stage one seeks basic ideas, a quick sketch, presented on single A1 boards before Friday, February 9. A shortlist of five will be selected and the authors invited to work up their ideas and attend an interview.

The competition brief will be available from January this Friday and can be downloaded from the following website: www.newislington.co.uk/ bridgecompetition.

Anyone wishing to submit an entry must register with the RIBA Competitions Office to receive an official declaration form. Only entries accompanied by a declaration form will be considered. To register and receive the form, send a cheque for £25 (inc VAT), payable to `RIBA Competitions Office' (note: no credit card facilities).

The scale of the transformation happening in the area is shown by the new urban water park, pictured above, which was dug out and planted last year and they hope the bridge will be in place by late autumn this year.

http://www.newislington.co.uk/

kids

January 17th, 2007, 04:29 PM

Thanks jrb, can't wait to see the entries.

chansau

January 21st, 2007, 07:00 PM

Does anyone have any info on the new City Lofts development in Ancoats? Looking at the City Lofts website it doesnt have too much info but apparantly its quite large (same amount of m2 floor space as their Salford/Liverpool developments) although not very high?

Potato Man

January 22nd, 2007, 02:11 AM

Chansau, see the East Manchester and Official Manc Threads for further info. Originally known as Pollard St, it has now been given a silly marketing name - Milliner's Wharf

Look's like a good scheme, looks like a good scheme given the location

http://tinypic.com/k3m0qg.jpg

chansau

January 22nd, 2007, 02:41 AM

Thanks Potato Man!!

Its my first sighting and gotta say I like it!

kids

January 22nd, 2007, 09:54 PM

The site for the bridge competition is up.

http://www.newislington.co.uk/bridgecompetition/

SleepyOne

January 25th, 2007, 12:24 AM

Great pic by Crush of the New Islington canal basin.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g317/crushbrook/IMG_2835.jpg

Who would have thought looking at the Great Ancoats St retail park that there is such a hive of activity delivering such an inspiring new development, just behind of it. The contrast could not be greater.

Just imagine the scene from here in a few years time when all the 'fingers' are fully developed with all these weird and wonderful new buildings overlooking the new canals and park.

jrb

February 7th, 2007, 09:39 PM

Treetop living is coming to the city

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/349.$plit/C_17_Articles_235471_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

The Botanic, New Islington by Bryant Homes

AMONG all the ambitious new developments springing up in New Islington, mainstream builder Bryant has revealed one of the most intriguing - apartments you reach via treetop walkways.

The two, five storey, blocks of The Botanic sit either side of a central garden which will be planted with 30ft evergreens down a central path edged with a carpet of flowers.

Lifts columns at either end will give access to walkways on each floor with more links going through the trees between the two buildings.

In another era this was probably described as deck access, but the virtue of it today is that it gives each apartment its own front door, does away with long and depressing internal corridors and also means that the apartments run the depth of the block, giving each a view both over the central garden and out across the city.

The Botanic will sit at the northern edge of New Islington, just over the canal from Waulk Mill.

The blocks will be slanted to catch the sun and all the ground floor space will be a mix of commercial and office units with parking underground.

Of the 200 apartments there will be 73 one bedders, 25 three beds of more than 1,000sq ft and 92 intriguing two bed duplexes - and all will have full height windows to the living space opening onto a balcony.

Its one of the most interesting schemes the city has seen and sales director Jason Newton said: "There has been a lot of interest from investors at trade fairs but we don't plan to do any pre-sales.

"It is a great development in a really progressive area and we think it captures what New Islington is all about, design quality, social inclusion, environment protection and sustainability."

They are not releasing prices until the launch this spring.

Bryant's other scheme in central Manchester, Macintosh Mills, is a complete contrast, a conversion of the buildings where they developed the famous raincoat.

Here they are exploiting the historic glory of the original building to make big and interesting spaces with vaulted ceilings and large windows.

There are 102 apartments here starting at £135,000 for a one bedder and there are also some bigger three bedroom units. Conversions are a rare breed now and according to agents command higher second hand values than new-build schemes - and here 30 have already been sold, even though first completions will not be until the end of the year.

Farsight

February 8th, 2007, 02:15 PM

That sounds nice.

skymann

February 8th, 2007, 02:33 PM

That sounds nice.

Looks enticing. There are gonna be some very individual new apartments around Ancoats/New Islington/Piccadilly. Who'd have thought that this area would be where the best residential buildings ended up.

Farsight

February 8th, 2007, 02:44 PM

macc

February 8th, 2007, 03:35 PM

There's an intriguiing point in there, skymann. The above is crappy old "deck access" given a whole new breath of life with flowers and trees. The buildings themselves might actually not be brilliant, but there are things you can do to make the place a good place to live. I'm sure the same applies to existing blocks if only our hand-wringing liberal PC masters could knock the "scroat factor" on the head.

they can call it what they want but its still deck access. Deck access doesn't work if kids are involved and a few trees won't make the scallies any less annoying...

...but there never are families are in these developements anyway so it'll probably be fine.

DanS10

February 8th, 2007, 04:41 PM

macc

February 8th, 2007, 05:23 PM

The reason deck access didnt work is that it became indefensible space due to there being no windows fronting the decks, which is not the case with these buidings. Here in Sheffield there is a great deck access scheme from the sixties in Stannington (it couldnt be more different to Park Hill) all because of a few windows providing ownership of the space meaning people treat it with much more respect.

A good point. That certainly would remove one problem with them.

I wonder how large the windows of the apartments are on the desk-side? They'd certainly have to revert to the smaller sizes; none of this floor to ceiling stuff.

Its kind of catch 22: If you make walkways appealing to spend time in, you make the scallies do just that. The quote below from the article describes exactly the original concept of desk access and nothing extra:

...gives each apartment its own front door, does away with long and depressing internal corridors and also means that the apartments run the depth of the block, giving each a view both over the central garden and out across the city.

What if the decks were double sized and partially partitioned, giving residents a small seating area the size of a standard apartment balcony? The double sizing would allow this space and room for neighbours to pass. It would be far more sociable and allows policing by presence, to keep an eye on the riff-raff.

You'd have natural lighting problems if you did it on every floor so how about alternating floors between double sized deck access with small garden and walkway, and standard corridor access with balcony only?

meh! I don't know? I'm flying of on a tangent again :)

skit_uk

February 8th, 2007, 05:41 PM

What about having a door on the lift that only residence can access. Anyway i think it all hinges around who lives there, and since it's not council housing i don't recon there would be any problem.

BeardedGenius

February 9th, 2007, 03:21 PM

How embarrassing!

A botched competition brief has led unsuspecting architects to design a bridge twice the size it should be and thrown yet another RIBA-organised contest into chaos. The scale blunder on the site plan for Urban Splash’s bridge competition in New Islington, Manchester, was only spotted by officials last Friday (2 February), giving potential entrants just days to amend their schemes before today’s deadline.

SleepyOne

February 25th, 2007, 04:29 PM

Thanks for the pics Highriser

CHIPS under construction
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1306.jpg?t=1172415066

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1305.jpg?t=1172415124

http://www.martinstockleyassociates.co.uk/images/portfolio_images/chips_02.jpg

havaska

February 25th, 2007, 05:00 PM

I'm really looking forward to seeing this finished in the flesh, but I can't help but feel that it is going to look crap and be built cheaply.

I'm not the greatest of Alsop fan, I think he is over-rated, and Chips isn't one of my favourite buildings, but I do respect it, and I do fear that it is going to be a disaster and look terrible once finished.

Manchester Planner

February 25th, 2007, 05:50 PM

Alsop *shudder* :runaway:

and-r

February 25th, 2007, 07:02 PM

alsop is great.. his ideas can look incredibly strange but they look brilliant when they're built and add a bit of much needed colour to the very grey british streetscapes. i think his designs seem more people orientated which is why they are more suited to public buildings and family areas like new islington

peckham library:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/104/271577424_bca7105d56_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/152044043_a2894e9ddb.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/343877573_c548b0da76.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/89/249923016_0537e51612.jpg?v=0
http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

ontario college:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a7/Ocad.jpg/450px-Ocad.jpg

goldsmiths (university of london):
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/113/255146640_a0972acee2_o.jpg

Manchester Planner

February 25th, 2007, 07:48 PM

Peckham Library and Goldsmiths look okay, but that Ontario College building is just, well, wtf?! What's in that top bit (the white with poka dots part)? If it's not used then what a waste of resources and space.

Jongeman

February 25th, 2007, 08:08 PM

It's got windows MP. It's probably a teaching block, leaving the admin crap downstairs.......pretty cool too, I like it.

Accura4Matalan

February 25th, 2007, 08:18 PM

Other than the Ontario library, those look pretty normal buildings. A little special, but not the overly radical that we identify with Alsop. From what I've seen, Alsop produces extremely wacky renders which produce buildings that are'nt very special.
This is my favourite Alsop project:
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/cranesetcphotos/palestra.jpg

Jongeman

February 25th, 2007, 08:23 PM

I found this on the Ontario College website...

2. Sharp Centre for Design
OCAD's award-winning new facility is accessed through the 100 McCaul Street main building. It houses classrooms and studios primarily for the Faculty of Design, with some mixed-use space. The administrative offices of the Faculty of Design are located in Room 500, Level 5.

It's Ontario College for Art and Design, the biggest Art and design Uni in Canada......located just south of downtown Toronto.

Cherguevara

February 25th, 2007, 10:14 PM

My flatmate studies in that Goldsmiths building. She doesn't like it or the 'Tagliatelli' on the roof, but she never actually complains about it as a workspace, it just isn't to her fine-art honed aethetic tatses.

It does look great at night from NXGate Station, poking out from the trees, sheds and gables of the rest of the street.

His buildings probably work better in really run-down areas where no refinement is needed, just a great dollop of joyfulness and cheer.

Accy - is that really an Alsop? I go passed it time I go into (London) townand presumed it was some jobbing hack doing an unambitious knock-off. Still, if he needed the money, chunky bright colourd marker pens don't pay for themselves.

havaska

February 25th, 2007, 10:16 PM

I do agree that Alsop's buildings look different and will bring in a lot of colour, but that isn't going to change my mind about them. It's just a style I dislike and I personally feel it is more suited to a theme park then a residential estate. I'm not saying this as a fact, this is just my personal opinion of course, everybody has their own tastes!

I do notice some repeating themes in his designs; he seems to love big overhangs held up and apparantly a random layout of stilts, and he seems to like to put the 'name' of the building in big letters on the top (see Peckham Library and 'Library' for an example).

Cherguevara

February 25th, 2007, 10:46 PM

I notice the one in Southwark is missing the appelation "Disappointingly mundane office block"

ferge

February 27th, 2007, 07:19 PM

I used to hate his work at first, and the 'cloud'.. now he is perhaps my favourite architect, and my uni work usually has an alsop element or two in it..his work really does give much needed colour to some drab areas, I really like this Chip building, and his masterplan for Middlesbrough

Prestonian

February 27th, 2007, 10:38 PM

Alsop adds a good dolop of fun into our architectural landscapes IMO.

macc

February 28th, 2007, 01:21 PM

An interesting article, linked from Designfood.

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/architecture/story/0,,2020121,00.html

The estate we're in

When a crime-ridden area of Manchester was rebranded 'New Islington', everybody laughed. A year after the regeneration project began, Andy Beckett visits the residents to ask if the grand plans for change are working

Saturday February 24, 2007
The Guardian

Inner city life... New Islington in Manchester. Photograph: Len Grant

It is September in Manchester and summer has fled. A cold rain blows across Ancoats, just east of the city centre. But on a half-demolished council estate, the property developers Urban Splash, Britain's leading transformers of derelict city spaces into desirable ones, are hard at work. They are holding a street festival.
The Urban Splash website promised bands, big-screen football, children's entertainers and an attendance of thousands. But an hour and a half after the scheduled start, there is a small, bedraggled stage, a few flapping marquees and a lot of unpopulated rubble in between. In the biggest marquee, perhaps a hundred people are sheltering. There are local families around noisy tables: mums and dads with plastic pints of lager, lads with shaven heads and stares to step around, children running about with big bottles of Coca-Cola. There are more prosperous-looking outsiders: slightly self-conscious young couples with fancy prams and an eye on Ancoats as an area with potential. And there are the Urban Splash staff, with their Urban Splash umbrellas and unshakeable smiles.

Article continues

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"We've always done things that people said couldn't be done," says the company's development director, Nick Johnson, a vision of confident, urban entrepreneurialism in oblong glasses and complicated anorak. "For years people have looked down on this area. Now they're jealous. Good." The festival is only a small part of an ongoing project overseen by Urban Splash to redevelop and transform the estate from being one of the worst in the country. He admits all this has "a social engineering aspect". But moments later, pint of Guinness in hand, he switches smoothly into a more populist mode: "There's people on this estate I've got to know, that I'd far rather have dinner with than some of the wankers I deal with."
He suggests we should move nearer the stage so we can hear the music. When we reach a new stretch of water and muddy landscaping, Johnson stops. "I'm looking at all this," he says, standing in the rain, "and I can't believe that three years ago there were just council houses in a dip." He takes a swig of his pint. "This is probably one of the most ambitious regeneration projects in the world."

Regeneration is one of the great orthodoxies and industries of the modern British city. But so far it has been mostly about improving city centres, and introducing new consumer pleasures - what you could call the Selfridges and Smeg kitchen approach. The Ancoats scheme is different. It is about creating a new environment for a deprived community as well as for wealthy incomers. It is meant to preserve that community, as well as put it in new houses. It has involved years of consultation with the original residents, rather than the usual imposition of a vision by property developers or government planners. It is intended to be ground-breaking in its environmental sensitivity. And it has taken to a new level the attention-seeking architecture and rhetoric and branding of modern urban regeneration.

The Ancoats project is called New Islington. With its whiff of New Labour, of London and the south, a more provocative name would be hard to imagine. The masterplan has been devised by Will Alsop, Britain's best known creator of technicolour architecture. The government has chosen New Islington as one of a handful of Millennium Communities, official models for how Britain should build its much-needed new residential settlements. And Urban Splash has promised, or floated the possibility - in property development such things can be hard to distinguish - that New Islington will contain the following: 1,400 new homes, a health centre, "a new primary school that tops the league tables", a new park with water features, an orchard, "a great pub", "a chic little Italian" restaurant, a full range of local shops, "the best fish and chip shop" and "a restaurant with three Michelin stars".

New Islington's first residents moved in a year ago. In June 2006, I went for the first time to see what they were making of their new world. The walk from the middle of Manchester took 10 minutes, past new hotels and apartments, then an emptier zone of car parks, then a windswept ring road. By the time I got to New Islington, the city centre felt much more distant than it was.

It was a weekday lunchtime. The front doors of the development's first 23 houses were hidden behind strong high gates. A few women came and went from the houses with prams or bags of shopping; shouted hello to each other; stopped to gossip. A few men were watching the World Cup behind newly hung net curtains. Liam Ryan got up from the football to show me around his new home. We started in the dining room. It was big for social housing. There were french doors on to the back garden, good long windows, an open-plan kitchen. Everything was spotless. We went upstairs. There was a large landing, light and freshly painted, with high-ceilinged rooms running off it. A balcony looked across to a neighbour's new house with its own balcony and, in the near distance, the cranes and towers of the booming heart of Manchester. "I love the balcony," said Ryan with feeling.

He did not have the air of someone who usually held idealistic notions about buildings. He was in his late 50s, with narrow, watchful eyes, and had lived in Ancoats through decades of local decline. What did he think New Islington would be like when it was finished? "Oh, beautiful," he said. "People from outside call this Balamory, Teletubbyland." He shrugged - in Ancoats, living somewhere that resembles the set of a children's TV programme may make a welcome change.

A hundred and sixty-three years ago, while researching The Condition Of The Working Class In England, Friedrich Engels was particularly drawn to the area. "Ancoats," he wrote later, "contains a vast number of ruinous houses." He noted "the neglect of all repairs, the frequent periods of emptiness, the constant change of inhabitants, and the destruction carried on by the dwellers".

The current redevelopment is not the first attempt to rescue Ancoats. After Engels but before New Islington there was the Cardroom. When the estate took in its first council tenants in 1978, Ancoats was going through an especially bad period. "Between 1966 and 1972 alone," Stuart Hylton writes in A History Of Manchester, "a third of [the inner city's] manual manufacturing jobs disappeared." As Ancoats' mills closed, its cheaply built Victorian terraces were finally deemed unacceptable; the Cardroom, named after part of a cotton mill, was the intended solution to both problems. Built with an eye on the failings of previous working-class housing, the estate was low-rise, with two-storey houses in a landscaped, villagey cluster. It was pedestrianised, so children could play outside.

For several years it all worked well. The first tenants were locals, and knew and looked out for each other. "Your milk could be on your doorstep for days," says Adedayo Ajayi, one of the early residents. "No one would take it." But, gradually, other forms of social interaction began to arrive. Drug dealers discovered the estate, with its central location and bushes and blind corners. "They used to sell nearly at my front garden gate," says Agnes Lewis. "When you went to the shop, you couldn't get to the door for all the gangs that were waiting outside." The estate's layout was also a gift to burglars and joyriders. Steve McFarlane patrolled the Cardroom as a police constable in the early 90s. "The joyriders had an excellent knowledge of the estate," he says. "You would chase them into a cul-de-sac, then they would jump out and run off down an alley." When a shopping mall was built backing on to the estate, further sealing it off from the outside world, shoplifters began offering their pickings for sale on Cardroom doorsteps.

Most former residents are emphatic that it was outsiders who caused the estate to "turn" after its benign early days. McFarlane differs slightly: "There were a lot of good people," he says, "but there were a small amount of criminals committing a large amount of crime. You'd catch joyriders and knock on their parents' doors and they would say, 'Not Johnny again. What's he done this time?'" The estate's falling reputation made the houses harder to let; the Cardroom became accommodation of last resort for difficult tenants from elsewhere. But even among the estate's long-standing, generally law-abiding residents, the sense of community that endured had a rebellious edge. "We never complained to the police," says Agnes Lewis, now 82, with a mischievous smile. "We never bothered."

All through last year, even as the Islington Square houses filled up, a large section of the Cardroom stood awaiting demolition. Most of the houses were empty and eerie, water dripping from smashed-in porches, kitchens stripped by vandals of all but their cosy tiling. Yet half a dozen homes were still occupied. Agnes Lewis was in one. In another, with their high garden gate locked and their flowerbeds immaculate, were Isidro and Kathleen Centenera.

Like Agnes Lewis, the Centeneras had been on the Cardroom since the 70s, and were both elderly and slightly frail. "These are nice houses," said Isidro when I first met him last June. "But we're frightened now. Next door will go Friday. Then there'll be no one to guard us." But then he gestured at the New Islington houses: "I wouldn't move over there." He continued: "They're getting a lot of trouble with the kids. Kids are knocking on the windows that are right on the street and running off."

Urban Splash had little experience working with the sort of people who lived on the Cardroom when it was chosen as the main developer for the site in 2001. Three years earlier, the company's founder, Tom Bloxham, told the Independent that its trademark apartment conversions in Manchester and Liverpool were "homes for decision-makers". At the 2001 census, in the Cardroom's area of Ancoats, two-thirds of adults had no qualifications and fewer than 40% were "economically active".

When the company arrived on the estate, there were 100 households left, half the number there had been in the 70s; everyone, except for the handful subject to antisocial behaviour orders, had been given the right to a home on any new development. Urban Splash set up regular public meetings in the Cardroom's battered pub, by then almost the estate's only public amenity. They visited every house to consult non-attenders. Then they organised votes on the crucial questions about the project.

The developers wanted it to be made up entirely of flats, but the residents voted for houses. Then there was the name: Urban Splash favoured Shooter's Brook, but it made people think of guns or heroin; other possibilities had an aspirational New York flavour (East Village) or a Dutch one (New East Manchester Dam). Yet the residents' overwhelming favourite had other associations. New Islington was the name of a street on the Cardroom; before that, it had been the local name for a popular swimming pool; and before that, a local canal and mill. "When we voted for it, we weren't worried about the London associations," says Ryan. "I remember Tom Bloxham said, 'We're going to be better than the London one.'"

Such ambition is invigorating, but it is not enough by itself. Last September, not every New Islington resident decided to go to Urban Splash's street festival. Adedayo Ajayi was sitting in his pristine living room, which faced away from the site towards waste ground. What did he think of the development's prospects? His face lit up: "I think it will be wonderful. I looked at the plans, and that's why I decided to stay in this area." But then his smile dimmed. He had a job, he said, as a biochemist at a local hospital. "Most of the people here don't work," he went on. "It's nice to live in a good environment, but it's not going to solve the problem."

Then again, New Islington is not just a scheme to rehouse the deprived of Ancoats. When it is finished, in around 2012, less than a tenth of its homes will be social housing. The rest will be upmarket flats, in buildings so flashy they will make the existing new houses look understated. In the computer simulations in Urban Splash's brochures, New Islington is populated by joggers and women in well-cut trousers, men in ties and convertible drivers; the old one-class, working-class Ancoats is gone.

Urban Splash argue quite convincingly that this will be a good thing. Like many northern cities, they say, Manchester does not have as many socially mixed inner city areas as it should. Such areas generate jobs, are more open to outsiders, help people expand their horizons. New Islington, the argument goes, will be an exemplary suburb.

Last month there was still no graffiti on the new houses. In the winter sun they looked as crisp and unblemished as architects' drawings. "People here understand that if you misbehave, you're out," said Ajayi. "The housing association told us that at meetings." But as those with high hopes for the Cardroom found out, bad social habits die hard. "I've had kids throwing stones at my windows," Ajayi said. "They always do it in the evening. A guy from the housing association said, 'Why didn't you follow the kids?' I said, 'You must be joking. Me? Follow anyone in the dark? I would be risking my life!'"

Almost all the residents I spoke to said they still avoided going out at night. "It's bloody dark round here," said one mother with a streetwise air who did not want to give her name.

That evening I went for a walk. By 6.30pm, the pavements were empty. In the new houses, people were watching television. The rest of New Islington was in darkness. In the shadows there was broken glass on the ground and dumped shopping trolleys from the mall. When I stopped by a streetlight to write something down, a car stopped and a woman wound down the window. "Are you all right?" she asked. "You're very brave sitting there on your own. It's rough round here." Then she sped off.

I found Agnes Lewis still in her old Cardroom house. She opened the door a few inches and kept the chain on. "Up to about three months ago, they were coming into the empty houses and taking the pipes," she said. "One of the lads doing it must have been about 15. He was struggling with this boiler. I said, 'What are you doing?' He said, 'You can get a lot of money for this. The copper price has gone up.'"

Yet such criminal opportunities are disappearing. The trusting postwar architecture of the Cardroom is being replaced with one preoccupied by security. McFarlane is now a police inspector dealing with New Islington and Ancoats as a whole. "It has quietened off an awful lot," he says. "We have a much closer relationship with the residents now. The new houses are like a gated complex. I've seen the plans for the whole development - it's all straight lines, no cul-de-sacs. A CCTV camera at one end can see all the way down." He lists other policing tools not available back when the Cardroom "turned": Asbos, parenting orders, powers to seize alcohol. In recent years, the Manchester authorities have pioneered the use of these powers with the same enthusiasm that they have backed regeneration projects.

On the Cardroom, a sense of community survived despite the crime and poverty. In New Islington, will that community be more subtly threatened by the new wealth and emphasis on security? In January, I spoke to an ex-Cardroom resident now living in New Islington who did not want to be named. "I don't see as much of my neighbours as I did," she said. "With the front gates the houses have got - you're meant to keep them locked - I see my next-door neighbour only when she's getting her mail."

Last June Liam Ryan told me he was worried that the ex-Cardroom residents were not New Islington's ultimate priority. He pointed out that its new public spaces and amenities will be at the opposite end of the site from the social housing. "We're on the periphery," he said. "We're going to be on the outside looking in." Urban Splash concede that the gradual outnumbering of locals by incomers "will be testing to manage". Professor Tim Dixon of Oxford Brookes University, an authority on urban regeneration, is impressed by New Islington in general, but describes it as "a bit light on social housing" and says this may limit its usefulness as a model for reviving other deprived areas.

If you leave the site and walk east, the size of that task becomes obvious. There are miles of tatty council houses, boarded-up shops and tower blocks, derelict mills like beached old battleships. This other Manchester still has many of the Cardroom's problems, and is awaiting other regeneration schemes; it is hard not to be struck by what has already been achieved at New Islington, for all its flaws and frictions. Regeneration projects are easy to criticise; what they replace is easy to romanticise.

Next month, Agnes Lewis is finally moving out of her old Cardroom house into New Islington. "The area won't change for us," she said when I asked her about acquiring wealthier neighbours. "For those that's coming in ..." She gave a knowing cackle. "They'll have to get used to it."