“Nice to Meet You“ ：The Creation of A Cohesive Neighborhood

MA Architecture & Urbanism 2019-2020

“Nice to Meet You“

The Creation of A Cohesive Neighborhood

Xiaoyu Gao

Xiaoyu Gao 19013793

01 Background & Location

Location History Conservation Area & Listed Building Current Situation

02 Site Analysis

Transportation Natural Resources & Public Spaces Facilities Housing Swot

CONTENTS In the 20th century, industry declined and houses deteriorated further, becoming slums in abandoned factories. But the Great Ancoats Street in the 21st century has risen again, and many large factories have been converted into apartments and offices.

Since 2002, Ancoats and New Islington have been undergoing urban regeneration and have positioned themselves as the two most ideal residential communities in Manchester.

However, after site analysis, it was discovered that the “ideal community” actually has issues such as lack of green space, safety and transportation integration, and the residents do not have a sense of community.

In the proposal, Ancoats and New Islington were re-planned from the four aspects of transportation, facilities, housing, and green space. The residential area of ancoats will further planned in detail, and one of the residential massing will be the design focus. The purpose is to form a cohesive community where residents have more opportunities to meet and gather.

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03-04 05-06 07 08

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03 Project: Studio A

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04 Project: Studio B

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Ancoats & New Islington: Make it a Connection, Make it a Community

A Cohesive Neighborhood in the North of Ancoats Analysis Based on Studio A Strategies Master Plan Section Perspective Views

05 Project: Studio C

“Nice to Meet You”: A Cohesive Residential Block Strategy Plans Flat Type Public Area System Elevation Perspective Views

31-36 37-42 43 44 45-46

47 49-50 51-58 59-63 64-66 67-68 69-70

01 Background / Location If we look at Ancoats and New Islington in the context of the city we can see that their location is quite central.

It is behind the Northern Quarter and is on the way from city centre to the Etihad Stadium and is connected to the city with public transport such as Metrolink and busses.

With regards to the relation to the city, it is clear that the area is becoming a part of the expanding city centre of Manchester.

Due to its historic background Ancoats is a conservation area and a number of buildings in the area are protected by law in order to preserve the history and to some extent, preserve the identity of the area.

However, congested driveways, wasteland filled with rubbish, dilapidated houses, and unattractive green spaces indicate that this area needs to be changed.

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Ancoats

New Islington

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Location

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Timeline History of Ancoats & New Islington

Late18th Century The beginning of industrialization

First Half of the 19th Century Rapid economic growth & Population explosion. “Pioneer Industrial Suburb of the Industrial Revolution�

Second half of the 19th century Mass immigration.

Religious and poor relief activities.

First Half of the 20th Century The factories manufacture war materials.

Second Half of the 20th Century Post-war decline: mills closed, population lost

21th Century Urban regeneration

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Conservation Area & Listed Buildings

Current Situation

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02 Site Analysis Through site analysis, many problems are discovered.

The narrow old streets are full of vehicles, and there are a lot of parking lots distributed throughout the area (but in fact, there is not so much parking demand); Green spaces and public spaces are unattractive and even fences prevent visitors from entering;The facilities in the area are not enough to keep up with the demand of population development; Some houses are too dilapidated, and newly built houses are also facing the problem of gentrification.

On the other hand, this area also has some potential advantages, such as natural resources like canal, New Islington Green and Ancoats Green, and unique regional identity formed by protected old mills.

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HAND MADE MODEL

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Analysis: Transportation

Car Parks in A + NI 11

Layers

Transportation Map 12

Analysis: Natural Resources & Public Spaces

Scenery along the Canal 13

Public Spaces & Green Areas

Green Space Quality Map 14

Analysis: Facilities

Layer of Facilities 15

Land Use 16

Analysis: Zoning

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Analysis: Housing

Housing Price & Building Height

Socio-economic Analysis 18

Analysis: Building Quality Assessment

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Wasted Land & Dilapidated Building

Analysis: SWOT

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03 Studio A Ancoats & New Islington: Make it a Connection, Make it a Community

Ancoats and New Islington will be re-planned in terms of transportation, public space, housing and facilities.

Firstly, the site is divided into residential area and tourist commercial area. Then most of the roads in the base were defined as roads only for pedestrians, and two intersecting primary pedestrian roads are established.

Facilities and public spaces are distributed along these two pedestrian roads to attract residents and visitors to use these two roads more.

These changes laid the foundation for Studio B and C. 21

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Proposal: Transportation

STRATEGY Less Car / More Open to Pedestrian 1.Set two primary pedestrian roads to connect the main landscapes and transport hubs; 2.Open the ground floor of the buildings along the two primary pedestrian path; 3.Primary vehicle roads are around the site, the site is dominated by pedestrian; 4.The parking lots are only located at the edge of the site.

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Proposal: Public Space & Green Area

STRATEGY More Attractive/Connected with Surroundings 1.Identify the users of each green space and square.

2.Green the two main pedestrian road.

3.Create a new square at the intersection of two pedestrian roads.

4.Creat a pocket garden at the end of the pedestrian road.

5.Improve the quality of existing green spaces and square to better integrate with their surroundings.

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Proposal: Facilities

Keep & Transform

STRATEGY More Attractive/Connected with Surroundings 1.Divide the site into Commercial & Tourist area and Residential area based on the current situation; 2.Set big attractions to bring people on the pedestrian street; 3.Set a group of public places along the pedestrian street; 4.Provide a community centre & some supporting facilities 5.Add some Affordable Housing in residential area

Traditional Market (No.10) 27

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Location

04 Studio B A Cohesive Neighborhood in the North of Ancoats

The North of Ancoats & More

The area of the neighborhood is the residential area of Ancoats defined in Studio A plus the existing residential area in the north of Ancoats.

On the basis of the Studio A master plan, the strengths and weaknesses here were critically analyzed, and this neighborhood was re-planned for stronger cohesion.

The community center, Ancoats Green and allotment, as the core of the community, are in the central position, surrounded by residential buildings. The outermost building serves as a transitional area between the commercial area/main road and the residential area to protect the neighborhood.

However, this neighborhood is not an isolated island, and the main pedestrian road is developed and expanded to connect the surrounding area.

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Analysis Based on STUDIO A: Transportation

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Analysis Based on STUDIO A: Facilities & Housing

House Type

Living & Cultural Facilities

Car Ownership in Household

House Photos 33

Age Group

Household Type

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Analysis Based on STUDIO A: Green Spaces & Public Areas

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Analysis Based on STUDIO A: SWOT

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Proposal: Transportation

Pedestrian Circulation

STRATEGY Strengthen the connection, both inside and to the surrounding 1.Extend and add the main pedestrian roads with ancoats green and community center as the core; 2.Enhance the connection with the area opposite the oldham road and the area opposite the canal; 3.Only keep proper parking lots.

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Proposal: Facilities

Keep & Transform

STRATEGY Strengthen community cohesion 1.Establish a public core area surrounded by residential blocks to enhance the cohesion of the neighborhood; 2.Set transition area to protect the residences; 3.Transform waste land into a neighborhood public space.

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Proposal: Green Space & Public Area

Green System

STRATEGY Strengthen community cohesion 1.Establish a public core area surrounded by residential blocks to enhance the cohesion of the neighborhood; 2.Set transition area to protect the residences; 3.Transform waste land into a neighborhood public space.

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Proposal: Master Plan

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Proposal: Section

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Proposal: 3D Images

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Site Status

Proposal 46

Socio-economic Analysis

05 Studio C

“Nice to Meet You�: A Cohesive Residential Block

By analyzing the demographic details of the area, the main types of residents and their needs are obtained, and a residential massing is designed based on this.

The design purpose is to create more opportunities for residents to meet, gather, communicate and help each other in this residential block. All design strategies serve this purpose.

House Type*

House Size*

*Data based on properties sold in the area in 2019

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Location

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Source of Inspiration

Strategy

How to Connect with Surroun

How to Strengthen the Relatio 49

dings

onship between Neighbors 50

Master Plan

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Ground Floor Plan

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1st Floor Plan

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2nd Floor Plan

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3rd Floor Plan

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4th Floor Plan

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5th Floor Plan

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Roof Plan

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What’s Your Family Like?

Block 1 Flats Plan 59

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Block 2 Flats Plan 62

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Public Area System in the Buildings

Public Area in Block 1

Public Area in Block 2 64

Perspective View of Section

Block 1 65

Public Area System in the Buildings

Block 2: Atrium Space & Public Space in Stairwell 66

Elevation & Material

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Ma n c h e s t e r S c ho ol o f A r c h i t e c t u r e