DLA wins Northwich Vision arts centre contest

Manchester-based DLA Architecture has been chosen to design a new cultural centre in Northwich following a RIBA Competition.

The Salt Market will be located along the river in the Baron's Quay area of the mid-Cheshire town providing galleries, performance, dance, restaurant and tourist information spaces.

DLA beat Metis of Edinburgh, NOX/Lars Spuybroek from Rotterdam, Atelier MS BV, also Rotterdam, and Jefferson Sheard of Manchester.

In its narrative, DLA said the design takes its inspiration from 'the idea of a medieval meeting place, reinvented as a transparent and animated space where people can come together to meet, eat, drink, shop, relax, learn and be inspired.'

DLA's Chris Levett and Nigel Morris said: "We were keen to develop a scheme which really tied into the council's regeneration vision for Northwich, and are particularly interested in creating public buildings that blur the lines between culture and services – the idea that you could go and pay a council bill and end up seeing an exhibition and buying a theatre ticket makes this a true one-stop shop. The project is a fantastic opportunity to act as the catalyst for a new cultural quarter in Northwich."

DLA's team included Max Fordhams, Price & Myers, Davis Langdon, AMPC and Soundspace Design.

The scheme will now be taken forward by the new local authority of Cheshire West and Chester.