Manchester

I am very proud of my roots and I just so happen to be from what I consider to be a very prominent city within the architectural circuit. Architect Norman Foster from Stockport is one of the most celebrated architects in the world. Both Stockport and Manchester boast some noteworthy architectural buildings. These include ;

Stockports indoor market hall,

Staircase house-stockport,

Urbis-manchester, 

The Hilton-manchester, 

The imperial war museum-manchester, 

I collected photo evidence of these buildings and studied them closer to determine exactly what it was that I liked about them as opposed to other buildings around them.

Stockport indoor market

 

I like that this building has stood the test of time and is still used today for the same purpose it was built for all those years ago.
It embraces its structure and uses it as decoration as opposed to concealing the steel beams tucking them away.
The glass panels give it a light and airy feel giving the illusion that you are outside, whilst keeping you protected from the elements making it a pleasurable shopping experience.

Staircase house Stockport

Staircase house is set in the heart of Stockport’s historic market place and boasts a fascinating array of rooms linked by corridors and narrow passages. All the rooms have been restored using period colours, furniture and artefacts which reflect the attraction’s long and eventful history.

The buidling is a grade 2* listed medieval town house dating back to around 1460. Very little is known of the house’s early history, though it is thought that it was originally the home of the Mayor of Stockport, William Dodge, in 1483.

The first definite residents were the Shallcross family who owned the house from 1605 - 1730. Part of the landed gentry, it was they who installed the cage newel staircase in 1618, which gives the house its name. The Jacobean staircase is one of only three surviving examples in Britain and has been carefully restored following an almost devastating fire in 1995. Staircase House was recognised as a local treasure by ‘The Stockport Heritage Trust’ who were established in 1988 with the purpose of saving the house and raising awareness. Without their efforts Staircase House would probably not be standing today. This is an early example of recycling and renovation.

Imperial war museum-Manchester

When the Imperial War Museum was founded in 1917, one of its functions was to be a memorial to those who had died and suffered in the First World War.

It is the first building in the UK designed by internationally-acclaimed architect, Daniel Libeskind. Clad in aluminium, this landmark building is a visionary emblem of war and reflects the innovative approach of the entire project.

The stunning exterior is based on the concept of a globe shattered by war and conflict. Libeskind very intelligently used three of these pieces (or shards) to form the building, with each segment representing earth, air and water. Visitors enter through the air shard, which is 55m high and open to the elements. It houses a viewing platform at 29m with spectacular views across the Manchester Ship Canal to Manchester city centre.

The curved earth shard houses the main public areas of the Museum - the Main Exhibition Space and the Special Exhibition Gallery. The gallery floors are curved so you can experience the curvature of the earth. The form / layout helps the visitor feel like they are part of the energy of the building

The Hilton Hotel - Manchester

The Beetham Tower was an instant icon in Manchester. Its 47-storey skyscraper and simple form are a great addition to Manchester’s skyline.   

Built in 2007, it is named after the developers, Beetham Organization, was designed by Ian Simpson and was built by Carillion.

It is the tallest building in Manchester by a significant margin. It consists of a Hilton Hotel up to level 23 and apartments from level 25 up to the triplex penthouse on level 47. There are also 2 basement levels, which contain car parking for the residents of the apartments.

Widely referred to as Beetham Tower, it is also known colloquially as the Hilton Tower thanks to the corporate logos placed on the 24th storey plant floor on each side of the building.

The civil justice centre - Manchester

It was designed by Australian architects Denton Corker Marshall with engineers Mott MacDonald. The building is notable for the "fingers" at each end that are cantilevered over the lower levels, and it is rumoured that Barrie Marshall sketched the entire building by hand and that very little has deviated from his drawings.

This building dominates its surroundings and its staggered levels cantilevered over the edge of one another are almost metaphors for hierarchy and status within the working building and society.