THING OF THE WEEK

DRAFTS & DRAUGHTS… This week’s event by Liverpool Young Architects focussed on drumming up ideas for what to do with the Churchill Way flyovers: the monolithic roads-to-nowhere are being demolished as you read this, opening up some prime development plots in the centre of the city. And what better way to come up with ideas than to eat plenty of pizza and have a few pints? A list of ideas shared with THING shows some of the more “realistic” visions, including parks, offices, social housing, and more, but others are slightly more… imaginative. On the list are a public beach – not sure about that in this weather – something simply called a ‘dragon’, along with waterfalls and elephants, proposed by architects at Studio Mutt. Whether it does end up being elephants or offices, THING will watch the future of the Churchill Way flyover sites with interest.


Riverside House

MUSE BOOZE… Hearty congratulations to the good folk of Muse Developments for making their long-awaited move from Anchorage to Riverside House at New Bailey, music to the ears of some of you who are no doubt tired of schlepping out to the Quays every time you have a meeting. It’ll also come as little surprise for those who have spent time with the Muse lot socially, that all their meeting rooms in the new home have been named after some of Manchester’s historic pubs: The Briton’s Protection, the Peveril of the Peak, the Sir Ralph Abercromby, and others. THING also hears an early attempt by Muse to do a pub crawl based on the meeting rooms ended in failure, with the team only making it as far as the Peveril before everyone realised they were a little worse for wear. Better luck next time?


Education Update74

The proposed size of the boat as indicated by Dr Hyde’s hands

BOAT FROM THE BLUE… Aside from wonderful updates, networking opportunities and great food, Place North West events also come with humour. At this week’s Education Update at Manchester’s Science & Industry Museum, headmaster Dr Simon Hyde from The King’s School in Macclesfield expressed his initial delight and ultimate disappointment when he misheard contractors speaking about “floating boats” for his potential school redevelopment, instead of the “floating bolts”. Nevertheless, THING is sure Hyde will be happy, boats and all, when the £60m project in Macclesfield completes in May next year.


Wrap Up Manchester

WRAP UP… The wonderful Wrap Up Manchester Project is back for its fifth year in a row and is inviting people to donate their coats to the city’s homeless for what is set to be a harsh winter. The project will be launched on 13 November at Piccadilly Station, and the call is for any coat, but especially for men’s coats. Drop off points include Safestores at Stockport Bryant, Manchester Old Trafford, Manchester Central, and Altrincham between the 11 and 22 November.


The Gaumont

THE MANCHESTER BEEGEE… Northerners are known for their music, and the Bee Gees are one of the jewels in its weighted crown. A campaign to save a piece of their pivotal music history has begun, which aims to stop the conversion of a site in Chorlton where they first performed being developed into flats. This is despite the fact that The Gaumont has since been turned into the Co-Op Funeral Care. The Chorlton Community Land Trust was given until 9 November to raise the funds to purchase the £250,000 site, but they smashed their initial target by £150,000 and are on track to raise £500,000 instead. Looks like this site will officially be… staying alive.

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