Inspired by their 2023 book GMC21, which looked at Manchester's 21st Century architecture, The Modernist are holding a series of walks focussing on individual architectural practices work, led by an architect from the relevant firm. The walks offer a unique opportunity to not only see some examples of contemporary architecture, but to hear about the background and rationale for the projects.
The fourth and final walk this year was dedicated to the work of SimpsonHaugh Architects. The walk took place on Thursday 15th August and was led by Partners David Green and Nick Fleming.
Starting at the pioneering 4 Angel Square at the heart of the NOMA neighbourhood, the architectural walk took the group to a number of SimpsonHaugh's masterplanning and built projects. We described our work on the Millennium Masterplan and the projects - Shudehill Transport Interchange, Urbis, and No. 1 Deansgate - that were delivered in the wake of the 1996 IRA bomb. We visited key milestones in the work of the practice such as No. 1 Spinningfields, Beetham Hilton tower and Viadux and detoured through Knott Mill to visit some of SimpsonHaugh's early work on the transformation of some of Manchester's 19th and early 20th century built heritage into offices, apartments, a recording studio and Atlas Bar. Finally, we talked about masterplanning the New Jackson area, and took a look at Deansgate Square and the new primary school and residential towers at Crown Street.
Thank you to everyone who joined is for the walk and The Modernist for the invite to lead the tour.
For more information about the GMC21 publication, visit The Modernist's website.