VISTA RIVER GARDENS
V ista River Gardens represents the first phase of development across two parcels of land either side of Trinity Way, each with its own secure underground parking, residents’ amenity spaces and private external terraces. Whilst the complete development will read as a coherent whole, each parcel is given its own strong identity through a differing language of architectural design. Vista River Gardens is arranged to frame a rich and verdant new garden space overlooking the River Irwell. Providing an open setting for the buildings, this new park will connect Salford via Regent Road with St John’s, Castlefield, and Manchester city centre beyond. The towers within Trinity Island rotate to address their immediate context, yet in combination form a partnership. Curved façades lock the towers into the natural bends of the river and site, whilst inflected façades contrast, to generate a visually slender tower form and encourage light and shadow to vary their appearance. At ground level the towers are elevated above a series of exposed columns, forming generous 3-storey colonnades that address the arrival space at the heart of the site. The space between the towers provides visual and physical permeability from the city to the river’s edge. The lower floors are cut away, producing a unique series of interlocking and stepped amenity spaces and external double height roof terraces, virtually drawing the external landscape into the building. The elevations reinforce the legibility of the building form, providing contrast between dark and textured curved façades, accentuated by repeated shallow vertical fins, with adjacent light and smooth inflected façades. Three quarters of the site will be developed as parkland in an urban riverside environment. A continuous lower-level route across the site addresses the river, whilst the elevated podium is richly planted with a mix of trees, shrubs, and lawns, providing elevated river views. A fully accessible feature of steps and ramps connects the differing landscape levels. ARCHITECT’S VISION
Intercontinental Hotel/Beetham Tower, Manchester
Rachel Haugh
Ian Simpson
Rachel Haugh & Ian Simpson
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