CASE STUDY
Linking Manchester via 75,000 SF of innovative retail
YEAR
TYPE
RETAIL
SCOPE
RESEARCH, CONCEPT, PLANNING, BUILD
CLIENTALLIED LONDON
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The Challenge
Manchester is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe. However, it’s city center is disconnected by an extensive highway network. To enliven a major street, the City of Manchester solicited proposals for a development partner to reconsider Campfield Markets, a former market grounds and decommissioned aviation museum. Allied London asked us to research economic shifts and consumer trends and design and present a comprehensive planning brief.
The Outcome
In partnership with Allied, we presented a new public realm scheme to Manchester City Council. The proposal focused on way to connect people to the history of the standing centuries old Victorian market buildings and design the streetscape to invite the best of Manchester’s flourish tech and fashion scenes. Floor plans and elevations described a narrative where commuters, weekend visitors, and local residents could celebrate why they love Manchester.
PHASE 1 OF 4
RESEARCH
Manchester is a city of makers. We worked with a retail broker to uncover the who’s who of entrepreneurs excited to innovate the historic grounds. We also reviewed global precedents to extract best practices and align with the parameter’s of the city’s RFP and local resident concerns.
PHASE 2 OF 4
CONCEPT
The concept for Campfield Markets is to tell the story of maker’s processes. At the northern most plot, an a old market hall will become Manchester’s best spot for local produce. The southern most plot will be a sprawling, multi story complex for makers, reatilers, and special showcase events. The street will be connected by a entirely public ground floor market hall space of a new residential tower. The buildings are connected by pedestrian pathways from the inside, out.
PHASE 3 OF 4
PLANNING
- Worked with local planners, CGL, to sketch layouts and determine marketable divisibilities and operations flow
- Briefed Allied in house architecture team on how to integrate a ground floor built for a food hall into grander stacking plan for a mixed use building
PHASE 4 OF 4
BRAND
In order to ground all of the ideas coming together on the plan, we also presented a brand that drew inspiration from the building’s architecture. During a two day brand sprint, we laid the foundation for future brand development that considered existing context and future use.
