Parkway Gate

Building Description

50 Chester St, Manchester, M15 6JH

Introduction

The Mancunian Way is a natural boundary to the progressive expansion of the city-centre. The close-knit composition of 3 buildings at Parkway Gate is an important component of the master-plan that will govern development on this urban edge. The architecture firmly establishes the emerging street grid and addresses the scale and dynamism of the elevated highway. It also raises the benchmark of design quality for student accommodation which is emerging as an increasingly important building type.

Planning

The buildings rise from 14 to 18 storeys and are arranged around a private courtyard. Their sculptural forms are a carefully considered reconciliation of high-density accommodation and visual permeability. Internal layouts are optimally efficient clusters of bedrooms with social facilities at ground floor that activate the frontages. The courtyard orientates pedestrian circulation and linkages, and its landscape design enhances the public realm by encompassing the south-facing street corners.

Design