Next phase of Manchester Gardens revealed
DeTrafford has unveiled images of its latest proposal at Manchester Gardens in Castlefield, replacing designs by Ollier Smurthwaite for a building on the corner of Chester Road and Hulme Hall Road with a larger, two-block development by JMArchitects.
Manchester Gardens is a 10-building residential masterplan being delivered by DeTrafford, reaching from the edge of St George’s Church to Hulme Hall Road. There are already four elements either completed or under construction: Roof Gardens was built by Pochin’s and completed last year; Pochin’s is on site with City Gardens and Sky Gardens, and DeTrafford’s in-house construction arm broke ground in August 2018 on St George’s Gardens.
At the corner of Chester Road and Hulme Hall Road, a smaller building known as Churchgate Gallery was proposed. Its replacement, Gallery Gardens, sits across the whole masterplan area from Chester Road to Ellesmere Street, and totals 366 apartments. The buildings will be split by a new road running through the development, known as Spinner’s Way.
Click images to enlarge
- Earlier proposal for the same site by Ollier Smurthwaite, named Churchgate Gallery
- The project is part of the Manchester Gardens masterplan. Credit: via planning documents
The two blocks step from eight storeys on Ellesmere Street “to be sensitive of the conservation area”, up to 19 storeys on Chester Road.
The building is intended to be the gateway to Manchester Gardens, as the first element visible when going into the city centre on Chester Road. As well as the landscaping along Spinner’s Way, Gallery Gardens includes a courtyard and a roof garden.
DeTrafford and JMArchitects are working with planner Paul Butler Associates, and a planning application is due to be submitted in the coming weeks.
Ollier Smurthwaite design so much nicer. ANOTHER boring building
By anm
Can someone describe this design to me please? I can’t look at it without falling asleep.
What kind of city are we aiming for here…
By Yawn
A little too polite, but so much better than the pomo era tribute that is Sky Gardens.
By Gene Walker
The original was much better. Almost ecclesiastical. This is boring.
By Elephant
Credit where credit is due, it’s not a Pinnacle/Freeman or Primesite/Tomlinson scheme!
Well done De Trafford for delivering what was promised.
By Carl
just what Manchester needs – another characterless box to add to the collection.
By Anonymous
Looks god. Classy and understated.
By ALL
ALL – I’d agree with half of that.
By No statement, no character
Hardly characterless. Better than what was proposed before and a lot better than some of the tripe around Castlefields/St Georges.
By AD1984
Boring. Ollier Smurthwaite 10 times better.
By Barry
Very very nice indeed.
By Rob Palmer
Yay another box.
By Sue Denim
Yawn, how very beige
By Tannoy
Can’t take much to be an architect these days based on some of these, I could design something better with a box of lego. Manchester has some great areas where architecture defines its identity and place. This is another of the many we now have anytown box developments that would send a glass eye to sleep.
By LionelRichTea
Sales must be good if they’re increasing the no of homes.
By YS
Watch your car round here, crime is skyrocketing
By Peachy
Tedious 60s looking. Is this the best we can do in Manchester?
By Jim
Another fantastic project by Manchester’s best residential developer. Maybe people should look at some of the other rubbish being built before criticising this project. Not sure how you can review a project based on one visual!
By Andy R
Great looking building, well done to DeTrafford. I went to the public consultation to review the whole project, it’s fantastic!
By Dave
The previous proposal was much better this scheme is dull.
By Lenny1968
Much prefer the OS scheme. Love the red brick & the modern warehouse style, the DT version is a bit lifeless for me.
By DxH
This is just awful. The previous design was better. We are going to regret this in 30 years.
By Acelius
gloomy innt?
By manc
I think it is perhaps dishonest of these schemes to still include the word ‘gardens’, concrete jungle comes more to mind.
By JWB
Could the people who have posted responses with phrases like “fantastic”, “classy” and “great looking building” please explain to everyone how you come to such conclusions? With the best will in the world this building isn’t remotely close to any of those adjectives. It is a dull, uninspiring box, typical of many other boxes being thrown up in Manchester at the moment. Maximum profit for developers, minimum aesthetics for the end user. Capitalism in all its glory. Enjoy.
By Sue Denim
Get off your high horse Sue Denim! Happy to criticise others for their positive comments! Not sure how you can judge a project based on a single CGI? DeTrafford are investing millions regenerating this area of Manchester, if you were to open your eyes and look at the bigger picture you might get a better understanding of what is being proposed. Would you rather the site stays as a derelict wasteland?
By Unbelievable
Unbelievable you do have a point about wastelands but this is five minutes from Deansgate. If it was in Chorlton then it would be fine but we are trying to create a top European city in Manchester.I hope it looks better in the flesh.
By Elephant
I assume this higher density and seemingly cheaper design will generate sufficient additional value to allow for a few affordable units – in fact I don’t doubt that’s the intention! Excuse my cynicism.
Looks like a 1970s office building. What a shame if this or anything similar gets approved after a positive start by De Trafford.
By BCMA
Not sure where these 1960’s references are coming from? What you can’t see in the CGI is the detail of the metal façade, there are deep faceted window reveals creating a very interesting aesthetic. You can get a sense of that depth on the Chester Road elevation. It’s certainly not a flat featureless façade as some people on here appear to be implying. The masonry blocks are equally detailed with deep reveals and faceted detailing. How do I know this? Well I bothered to go to the public consultation to review the design properly. Those people with negative comments will be eating their words when they see the finished buildings.
By Archi
Dull and boring, despite claims by “archi” – so what if its not completely flat, the facade is still depressingly monolithic. Its all the more apparent due to inevitable comparison with the prior design.
Appreciate this bit is more subjective, but its also about 7 storeys too high.
By Whats the Storey, 19 Floor Glory