SITE 10: ST PATRICK’S OPPORTUNITIES
CONSTRAINTS OBJECTIVES
It experienced huge population growth during 19th century industrialisation, however since World War 2, the area has been in decline. Today, Collyhurst is an area of many contrasting neighbourhoods; with increasing conflict between the wealthier professionals expanding northwards from the city centre, and the highly deprived housing estates of north Collyhurst and Monsall. our Site, St Patrick’s, lies between these two “zones”, and is within the Victoria North Regeneration Area; the largest and most ambitious in Manchester’s history.
Rochdale Road Skyline (1966)
Collyhurst Flats, Rochdale Road (1958)
Aiming to produce over 15,000 homes over the next decade, across seven new neighbourhoods The first phases of development; 274 new homes (130 of which being social housing) have already begun in Collyhurst.
Site
Sand Hill: proposed new tram stop
South Collyhurst Character Area
rapidly-developing city fringe
Rochdale Road: major local & city centre route
Irk Valley; rich GI and green route potential
Oldham Road: Major borough + city link
Victoria North: Phase 1 Developments
canal/river
DESIGN OPTIONEERING Gateway Square: capturing footfall from Rochdale Road at a key corner - with a large public square with active retail frontage, and feeding into the green heritage network St Patrick’s Community Core: consolidated educational block, expanding the existing school to include a public library and after-school centre, with a large interior playground Mixed Density Mixed Use: office frontage along Rochdale Road and gateway square (high activity zones) , with residential flats above to offer more consistent surveillance and footfall to the zone High Density Residential: using taller apartment blocks to screen against Victoria train line, while offering a visual landmark within the site Townhouses: permeable grid of 3-5F terraces; linking into the Collyhurst vernacular and typologies, while prioritising car-free modes of transport
CONCEPT
Green highlighting Collyhurst’s heritage assets; St Patrick’s church & school, and Heritage Network the New Allen Street viaduct, through a pleasant pedestrian route; linking the activity along Rochdale Road to more intimate, community-led spaces central node
secondary node
IMMATURE DESIGNS Option A: Collyhust Park
Victoria North: future public square network heritage assets zones of major GI site is predominantly derelict greenspace
Victoria Railway: major barrier severing Collyhurst Rochdale & Oldham Roads as major sources of vehicle activity; noise & air pollution low legibility local road network poor-quality buildings
unpleasant pedestrian environment poor legibility and surveillance low-quality views/ landmarking
Enhanced Green Spaces
interlinked network of GI-rich public spaces, both at a local and neighbourhood scale; notably a large community park along New Allen Street
Community Building
offering a wide range of GI solutions; integrating SUDS and seasonally-diverse species to encourage biodiversity and sustainable land management
Highlighting Heritage
Social Spaces
consolidating the educational/ community block around St Patrick’s - expanding services to offer after-school care and a public library (as well as a cafe)
establishing a large public square along Rochdale Road - Livesey Street junction; a key gateway corner which is perfect for retail frontage and a high-activity node
Pedestrian-Priority
formation of a green heritage network, improving links from Rochdale Road to St Patrick’s and the New Allen Viaduct through high-quality, green pedestrian routes
improving neighbourhood permeability and legibility by using strong urban blocks, with regular breaks to facilitate pedestrian movement
[for a more comprehensive breakdown of this analysis, please see Framework]
ILLUSTRATIVE MASTERPLAN
DESIGN LAYERS DAWSON GREEN
BUILDING HEIGHTS
named for famed comedian Les Dawson, this community leisure space is centred around a large sponge garden and boardwalk; offering SUDS and biodiversity
medium heights (high contrast to surrounding derelict land) to capture attention on Rochdale Road
central boulevard: named for Nobby Stiles, a Collyhurst local, playing for Manchester United and England throughout the 1960-70s
blends into surrounding 2F terraced houses 2F (approx 6m) 3F 5F 6F 7F 8F 9F 10F
while heights are elevated; they remain low enough to continue highlighting St Patrick, while also offering a clear height & useage transition from the surrounding 2F residential
CHAPMAN SQUARE Key gateway node, this adaptable public space has strong retail frontage and leisure spaces, with clear heritage links to Collyhurst and Manchester through a landmark statue and views of St Patrick’s
LAND USE
7-9F - Resi 1F - Parking
4F - Office
Church (& Accessory Buildings) Office / Rental Space Retail
2-4F - Resi
strong residential frontage onto Viaduct Park to establish calm, community-focused nature of the space; located at the geographical centre of South Collyhurst
2F - Office
avoiding placement of resi on the ground floor in highly active areas (along Rochdale Road + public square)
captures the key Rochdale-Livesey corner; creating a gateway along this junction, perfect for creating a large public square pulling back the building line to form this square better highlights St Patrick’s from Rochdale Road
ROUTES & DESTINATIONS
ground floor parking (communal)
more intimate residential GI area; SUDS sponge garden
strong central shared road; servicing/residential spine
A
high permeability of blocks
Key corner node: Livesey Square
Livesey Street is over-prioritised, and as the source of primary activity and footfall; links to Viaduct are poor (thus incomplete heritage/green route) servicing/shared roads are far less legible
GI Public Realm Pedestrian Route Shared Road
strong movement encouraged through core of site (rather than its periphery per other designs); footfall more likely to be evenly distributed across the site clear pedestrian pull from Rochdale Road; views into the site of central square and St Patrick’s
large community park
poor legibility (non-direct pedestrian links) and likely to fail in attracting footfall due to lack of engagement along Livesey Street open/accessible back gardens within the residential zone (lack of privacy/security)
VIADUCT PARK
large community park with diverse GI and activities; wildflower meadows, apiary, allotments, multi-sport courts, amphitheatre, cafe space
ST PATRICK’S
expanded civic/community block; offering expanded school facilities (including a secure, large interior playground) a public library, daycare and attractive public play and recreation areas
CROSS SECTION (A-A’)
strong residential frontage onto park to offer surveillance and to encourage use
statue/ landmark
use of building line to redirect foot traffic along Livesey Street and down New Allen Street
strongly pedestrianised around school block; major (green) spill out spaces to accomodate foot traffic and create meeting /socialisation spaces
PRIVACY
strong retail frontage along Chapman Square (activate the space) with large GI for shaded spill-out/seating space
Hierarchy Primary Secondary Local
Switch to shared road model to prioritise pedestrian movement along Livesey & New Allen St
PUBLIC
captures the key corner of Rochdale-Livesey: ideal location for retail frontage
secured residential housing blocks (terraces/ corner apartments); gardens no longer publically accessible
Corner Flat / Maisonette Apartments Library
Option B: Rochdale Square
pulling back the building line to better highlight St Patrick’s church & school (activated Green Heritage Route)
Townhouses
School
1F - Retail
Lack of pull from Rochdale Road to draw people down into Collyhurst and the green heritage route, with placement of buildings in line with St Patrick’s further obscuring views
clear hierarchy of public spaces; Active/Public (Square), Community (New Allen Street Park) and Residential (block interiors)
Increased heights along rail line both to screen and form a new landmark building
4F
creation of community park linking St Patrick’s and the Viaduct, tying into the green spill-out space for play from the school/civic block complete expansion of the civic block offers screening against the ugly side profile of St Patrick’s, while offering a secure interior courtyard for play strong block frontage along Rochdale Road enhances movement corridor effect
CONSOLIDATED MATURE DESIGN
forming a central servicing spine with pedestrian priority (shared road model); promoting car-free movement across attractive edges of site
weak character area
legible, strong central service spine
Option C: Central Node
Design Consideration: Community Feedback (URBED, 2020)
Residential
Collyhurst is a suburb of Manchester, a 15 minutes’ walk from the city centre.
Georgia Missen 10276054
ACTIONS
INTRODUCTION
Rochdale Road, Collyhurst
SEMIPRIVATE
Major Minor
PRIVATE
strong GI presence integrated into child-oriented spaces; providing a sheltered, attractive environment
GI as a buffer against vehicular traffic
A’ A
A’
SERVICING & PARKING
FRONTAGE & ACCESS
bo Os e rn e re St
entrance building;offering easy residential access from Rochdale Road and securing building back and parking entrance from main road access
shared resi frontages to increase eyes on the street (amplified by balconies and rooftop gardens)
use of alternating parking spaces (can be modified to include bike racks / benches etc) to create a traffic-calming effect, and a buffer between pedestrians and the road
1 Nobby Stiles; Shared Boulevard
t
relocated bus stop to boost footfall to square
es til
Dr
D Chapman Square (1,425m )
ey es Liv et re
St re et St Al le n ew N
Bus Stop Bike Storage Shed (sheltered) Bicycle Rack
retaining (limited) on-street parking to facilitate visitors; again, using this as a buffer zone against the more active central shared vehicular corridor
strong resi frontage to define park space & offer surveillance
Frontage Major Minor Retail (Active) Office (Semi-Active) School & Church (Semi-Active) Residential
B
E G
cafe space to activate Viaduct Park and further encourage use
A
D
H F
2
(per unit)
2
B Residential Corner Flat (4F): 7 units (410m2); 1B: 6 units, 3B: 1 unit (penthouse) average 12 inhabitants
C
A
Retained Heritage Assets: St Patrick’s 2 Church (1,220m ), Church accessory buildings 2 2 (860m ), St Patrick’s School (1,460m )
B C
Extended Church Facilities: 3F (960m ) 2 Daycare: 1F (1,050m ) 2 Public Library: 2-5F (4,030m )
D
Cafe Space: 1F (140m ) 2 Patrick’s School (Extended): 5F (4,290m )
E
Amphitheatre & Spill-Out Space (1,010m2)
F
Play Zone (690m )
G
(private) Internal Playground (2,775m )
C
speedbump to reinforce awareness; change from vehicular route to shared
2
Townhouses (3F): 67 units (10,050m ); approx. 170 inhabitants
C
2 Nobby Stiles; Residential Boulevard
Primary Vehicular Route Secondary Vehicular Route Local Vehicular Route Shared Road Service Road On-Street Parking Internal Courtyard Parking Interior Parking (Residential)
(total)
C Office Space (2F): 3,875m2 Residential (3-5F): 86 units (1,910m2); 1B: 34 units, 2B: 46 units approx. 180 inhabitants
ZONE B: ST PATRICK’S
generous placement of bike racks (especially around large public spaces) to encourage multi-modal transit
A Residential Townhouse (3F): 150m average 2.5 inhabitants
A
B Office Space (6F): 7,265m
A
D
No
narrowing to one lane in order to expand pavement in front of St Patrick’s to highlight its key facade
(per unit)
2
S
y bb
ZONE D: TERRACED TOWNHOUSES
A Retail Space (1F): 1,570m2, Office Space (4F): 6,995m2
B
GI to offer shade and reinforce pedestrian-vehicular buffer
communal secured bike sheds
ive
ZONE A: CHAPMAN SQUARE
(total)
2
Corner Flats (4F): 77 units (10,050m ); 1B: 66 units, 3B: 11 units approx. 175 inhabitants
B
C Viaduct Park : 3,875m2 Wildflower Meadows: 1,600m2 Community Allotments: 500m2
2
2
TOTAL
concentrating residential parking into a communal space, allowing streets to be reclaimed for public spaces and furniture
archway entrance with vehicular frontage road to permit entry directly from Rochdale Road (reduces strain on Nobby Stiles Dr) or other local roads, while retaining strong frontage to enhance the movement corridor effect along Rochdale Road
TYPOLOGIES & DIMENSIONS
KEY SECTIONS
2
2
2 H Greenspace: 1,450m
residential increased units population
816
retail space
1,570m2 19,825m2
1725
BLOCK TYPOLOGY
office space
public major public green space spaces
6,685m2
3,265m2 Ile-Saint-Denis, France
Poznań, Poland
Midway City, California
ZONE A: Active Market Square; retail frontages
ZONES A&C: Mixed-Use Office; strong frontages (especially along Rochdale Road), with residential space on upper floors (office space as screening for the louder/less private lower floors)
ZONE C: DAWSON GREEN
Access Points Commercial/Office Apartment (Resi) Block School
A
Vehicular Parking
3 Residential Street
D
E
Ground Floor Parking (1F): 2,200m 2 Residential (7-9F): 256 units (17,250m ); 1B: 64 units, 2B: 135 units, 3B: 57 units approx. 600 inhabitants
B
Residential (3-7F): 157 units (10,950m ); 1B: 17 units, 2B: 105 units, 3B: 35 units approx. 390 inhabitants (Private) Rooftop Gardens: 1,340m2
C B
C
D
service road to provide emergency access (if needed); parking will be relocated to communal parking in Zone C
2
A
E
2
2
Residential (4-6F): 93 units (6,030m ); 1B: 33 units, 2B: 49 units, 3B: 11 units approx. 205 inhabitants (Private) Rooftop Gardens: 1,125m2
Ecole Maternelle Pajol, Paris France
Seestadt, Vienna, Austria
Abode, Cambridge, UK
2
Office Space (2F): 1690m 2 Residential (5F): 80 units (5,360m ); 1B: 20 units, 2B: 45 units, 3B: 15 units approx. 185 inhabitants Sponge Garden : 1,360m2
ZONE B: contrasting ZONE C: large apartment blocks existing heritage by using with balconies and rooftop playful and colourful gardens design (linked to block use)
ZONE D: townhouses and corner buildings
DETAILING KEY SPACES CHAPMAN SQUARE
Dedicated to a long-demolished square in Collyhurst of the same name, Chapman Square is the key gateway into the site, and the South Collyhurst residential area. With active retail frontage along the ground floor, a bus stop directly opposite, ample spill-out space and shaded seating areas, this square aims to capture footfall off Rochdale Road and generate activity, and provide space for services for locals and visitors alike. relocated bus stop with shelter
strong external public realm allows for servicing to be offered through the block interior; parking and delivery bays, although GI is still integrated into this landscape
Named for local Collyhurst lad, and beloved Mancunian comedian; Les Dawson, this neighbourhood sponge garden nestled in the centre of a residential block will create a semi-private space for surrounding inhabitants, while integrating SUDS and diverse GI across the site transition to more seating/ activity-oriented GI; away from wetland conditions
CTIVE
RETA
Using a statue dedicated to local heritage; mining and textiles to further accentuate nodal nature of square cafe seating and spill-out space, while retaining a 3m direct movement corridor along the building line
trees offer shade and breaks up the large square into smaller zones
possible placement of geological mosaic; using heritage materials (e.g the red sandstone quarried in Collyhurst) to create a Collyhurst/ East Manchester formation - highlighting neighbourhood links and shared history integrated lighting to mitigate GI obstruction
Best Practice: StuyTown, New York
compact play areas using bright colours and encircled by pedestrian material changes to wrap a highways help break up park around a corner large pieces of public realm & increase activity
integrated with abundant shade trees and seating areas to provide microclimatic control
water fountains and other amenities to encourage use
offering increased biodiversity, SUDS and urban apiary opportunities, as well as offering excellent educational opportunities to the nearby school and neighbourhood integrated lighting for night-time use
TwinMotion
rooftop gardens to offer some more private resi GI spaces, but keeping some surveillance of Dawson Green
incorporating small play spaces to support family use of square
COMMUNITY ALLOTMENTS
using a dedicated section of Viaduct park to form allotments; encouraging community investment in the maintenance of the park, as well as offering educational opportunities for the nearby school Best Practice: Vienna Urban Gardening Movement
bee symbology is another strong cultural link to Mancunian heritage
SHADED REST AREAS small inset
TwinMotion
Best Practice: West Gorton, Manchester
VIADUCT PARK
seating areas to provide privacy, shade and strengthened GI presence at the human scale
school ex
it
MO
Best Practice: Lingang Sponge Garden, China
1:1000
TP ARK
3D
L DE
UC
TwinMotion
DU
CHAPMAN SQUARE
ST PATRICK’S CHURCH
Best Practice: Lollipop Park, Shanghai
URBAN WILDFLOWER MEADOWS
Two Multi-activity courts (25x12m) offer mixed activity for residents (following community feedback for better access to football or basketball courts)
VIA
playful and engaging seating arrangements to promote interactivity
use of a speed bump to reinforce transition to shared road model; additionally use of sporadic on-street parking as “organised chaos”; producing safer, slower roads and pedestrian priority zones
ACTIVE SPORT & PLAY ZONE
aditionally, combining sport areas with recreation / play can help encourage outdoor activity from a young age
DAWSON GREEN
keeping the key corner relative clear from furniture/GI to preserve views into the square to capture attention
A charming Grade 2* listed Roman #Catholic church, St Patrick’s is a strong piece of working class Irish heritage in Collyhurst, as well as a strong landmark. Its interesting romanesque-art deco style is also rich in architectural detailing; the use of white stone is particularly distinctive.
BOARDWALK
central movement corridor is preserved by offsetting seating into the arched section of the boardwalk (more leisurely zone)
Durham University, Geology Dept.
TwinMotion
1F - A
/ OFFICE CTIVE EMI-A 2-4F S E L SPAC GE RENTA ONTA IL FR
extension of the traffic island (+3m) to provide a safer, more pleasant pedestrian crossing
neighbourhood info boards with community events / classes / notifications
DAWSON GREEN
Best Practice: Place Dumon, Brussels using a local public square as flexible area for weekly markets, small fairs and local events; the lack of formal furniture/structures (as emulated in Chapman Sq) facilitating this
2 By reducing Livesey St to one lane in order to expand the public realm; St Patrick’s is better highlighted as a major cultural and architectural landmark also strengthens the draw (as a pedestrian) down Livesey St from Chapman Sq and Rochdale Road
3
ET
NEW ALLEN STRE adding a historical plaque outside the front of the church to improve interaction with the streetscape
regular crossings linked to established park & existing neighbourhood routes
1
ST PATRICK’S CHURCH
RELOCATED WW1 VETERANS COLUMN
aspects of more traditional church ornamentation against the modern art deco silhouette
Best Practice: Teikyo Heisei University playful amphitheatre; Nakano Campus asymmetrical block formations (max 1.25m) across three levels to create an interactive play-seating area use of mixed materials (yellow sandstone, wood, white stone) to amplify this
heritage neighbourhood link and offers a clear landmark/ meeting spot combined with the Amphitheatre
integrated play and GI for micro-climatic control (shade, temperature, wind etc) Creating an attractive school drop-off zone (with an emphasis on child-friendly design) outside the school entrace and along Livesey Street; a highly active, accessible, legible route. Offering play and shaded seating areas, this area aims to liven up the school run, while offering incentive for use outside of schooltime using trough planters and bollards to provide a strong physical (but permeable) barrier between vehicular route (Livesey Street) and the pedestrian space
AMPHITHEATRE
using material changes to highlight the central node (thus the memorial and amphitheatre) as a contrast to the pedestrian movement corridors
TwinMotion
ST PATRICK’S SCHOOL PLAY AREA
material change to distinguish pedestrian movement corridor from play/leisure area
townhouse design - staircase arrangement of houses creates shallow 0.75m faces; offering privacy for front doors Additionally, this visual effect is reminiscent of the arched viaduct which once extended through the site; now acting as a strong residential backdrop to the park
key node
active movement corridor
TwinMotion
Redbrick as a cultural link; Collyhurst’s history of red sandstone quarrying and redbrick terraced vernacular, as well as offering warmth aesthetically; essential during Manchester’s cold, grey winters