A new green space between the new ITV building and the Imperial War museum linking to the bridge crossing to Media City and the Manchester Ship Canal walkway
The design intent was to create a dynamic robust urban greenspace which matched the scale of the adjoining buildings and canalside waterfront. Where possible we’ve tried to make reference to and reveal existing features and elements. The existing concrete wharf has been retained and patched up with an old concrete crane mounting clad with basalt as a seating feature with lighting.
Street furniture has been kept to a minimum with simple lighting columns , benches and retention integrated as one detail to avoid visual clutter and impart a sense of clarity.
The planting philosophy is to have strong elements such as the semi mature Aspen trees along the main walkway, providing graceful shimmering foliage and vivid Autumn colour. Purple beech hedging and grassed landform giving the impression of a pathway through a shallow valley.
Part of the brief was to overcome complex contamination issues on the site-was resolved in an innovative and sustainable fashion by creating an impermeable base to stop runoff passing through contaminated substrata. Existing macadam surfaces were retained –other areas are lined to divert surface water runoff into a swale. The project was part funded by ITV and Peel Holdings.
