A building in the centre of Manchester is to be extended by two stories as part of a £6m project.
Bluefig Investments has secured planning permission to redevelop and expand 55 Mosley Street in Manchester city centre. The plans will see two floors added to the landmark office building meaning that it will provide 13,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation as well as a comprehensive refurbishment of the existing interior. Bluefig Investments acquired the building in December 2017 and employed architectural practice, Hawkins\Brown to design the new scheme. The contract for the construction of the extension and refurbishment is about to go out to tender. Faris Mousa, managing director of Bluefig Investments, said: “This strategically located prime office building not only benefits from the extensive investment that has been ploughed in to St Peter’s Square over the last few years but as it is situated close to one of the key gateway entrances to the city and with the new tram stop on its doorstep, it seems obvious that this building is overdue a revamp. “The Manchester office market remains one of the most stable and buoyant sectors in the country and whilst many developers are continuing to hedge their bets on speculative developments pre Brexit, I am confident that 55 Mosley Street will appeal to a number of occupiers currently looking for exceptional new office space in the city. “We have a fantastic team supporting this project and are excited to be delivering a very special scheme that embraces the future ways in which we operate by creating an inspiring and productive working environment.” Tom Dobson of Hawkins\Brown adds: “The redevelopment of 55 Mosley Street has presented an exciting opportunity to regenerate a prominent city centre building to provide new contemporary workspace. “Working in close collaboration with the client and consultant team, we established a clear narrative and vision for the project that was crucial in developing the design. “The distinction between the original fabric and new interventions has been designed to create a clear legibility and definition that celebrates a new period in the building’s history and encourage tenants to adopt new ways of working, whilst recognising its former use as an industrial warehouse.” The reconfiguration of the internal spaces has included the integration of a new entrance and reception area to engage and activate the building at street level.
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I love traveling to other countries and enjoying the architecture which is borne out of other cultures. (See Faris Mousa: More amazing architecture in Rome) However, I also love my home city of Manchester and I am fortunate that it is filled with its own fantastic buildings which have emerged over the last 1,000 years. Travel is great, but as this great city proves, you don’t always have to go very far to find something new or inspiring. Here are four of Manchester’s most famous buildings.
Manchester Cathedral This origins of this cathedral can be traced back to the Saxons, but the building that stands today was constructed over the last few hundred years. Not only is it a beautiful site with much intricate detail, it’s also symbol of Manchester’s resilience: throughout its history it has survived attacks, bombings and plenty more, but it’s still standing strong. Town Hall Completed in 1877, Manchester’s town hall is a fantastic example of neogothic work. The clock tower hosts an impressive 23 bells, the largest of which is 8 tonnes and required great engineering minds to hoist into place. The town hall stands grand and proud in the city’s centre, providing a familiar backdrop for many iconic Manchester events, such as the world famous Christmas markets. Victoria Baths Manchester’s water palace is in the middle of a restoration project with no known end date. It hasn’t been used for its original purpose in more than 20 years, but the fact that millions has been spent working on the building, and that today it host events ranging from nightclubs to cinema screenings proves how well loved it is by the local population. The multicoloured brickwork facade, stained glass windows and tiled interior are breathtaking and I hope full restoration is completed before too long. Urbis The Urbis was built at the turn of the millennium and was one of the showcase pieces of architecture that proved the city was bouncing back from the 1996 bombing. It features a fully glass facade, which gives stunning views of the city for visitors, and a unique sloping design. It forms part of a large communal area which is popular with city residents, and to top it all, the building has hosted the National Football Museum since 2012. Categories All The coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, causing chaos, terror and sadness throughout the world. Some of us will endure the minor convenience of having to stay at home, others will pay a much higher price. The lockdown is changing the way we live and work, at least temporarily. It is also giving us time for reflection. I am fascinated by the buildings that we live in, work in and play in, and have been thinking recently about what lessons we may learn during these difficult times. Friends and family are all-important
During this lockdown, we will be kept in close proximity to some people, and kept at a distance from others. We look forward to the day when we can mingle again, freely. This distance, and the fact this virus will claim thousands of lives, will hopefully remind us all how important these people are. I have previously written that the dinner table is the most important feature in a home (Faris Mousa: The Most Important Piece of Furniture in Any Home) because it is where I spend time with my family: cooking, chatting, even doing our homework. I try to design all my homes with social elements, encouraging people to come together. Let’s hope we all make the most of being together when we have the opportunity. Public buildings are an important part of society There is nothing quite like being denied something to realise how much you value it. During this lockdown, this is true of all manner of places: bars and restaurants, sports stadiums, libraries and galleries, even gyms. Some buildings are merely functional, some are beautiful, too. Beautiful buildings even bring in tourists from around the world, that’s how much we value them. Let’s remember how much we missed these places. As individuals, let’s make full use of them when they’re once again able to open the doors (they will certainly appreciate the income) and as a society, let’s appreciate what an important role these buildings play in our daily lives, and give them the attention and investment which they deserve. Categories All My most recent blog discussed podcasts for people with an interest in architecture (Faris Mousa: The best podcasts for architects to listen to). Podcasts are popular with busy people as you can listen while undertaking your daily routines, from DIY to exercising to commuting. Now I am turning my attention to YouTube channels, which coincidentally comes at a time when we are all being encouraged to ‘self-quarantine’ and stay at home. So here are some great content creators who can help you explore the world of architecture, whether or not you’re indoors by choice. The B1M A British-based channel which looks at the construction (and sometimes deconstruction) of buildings around the world, including Olympic stadiums, airports, skyscrapers and bridges. A new video, usually no more than 10 minutes in length, is published every Wednesday. 30X40 Design Workshop This American channel explores the day-to-day work of architects and helps students understand what the role involves and keeps professionals informed of developments. It includes how-to guides, answers common questions and reviews popular tools and platforms. Dezeen Dezeen is the most frequently-updated channel on this list. It publishes a mixture of up-to-the-minute architecture-related news, interviews with prolific industry professionals (many award-winners among them) and also feature-length documentaries on important topics from sustainability to the demolition debate. Architectural Digest The popular magazine, known for showcasing the latest trends in architecture and design, has a channel which takes you inside some of the day’s hottest properties. It’s an opportunity to look inside a variety of very expensive and exclusive homes, many of them owned by celebrities. How to Architect
A great educational tool created by a seasoned and award-winning architect who is keen to share his knowledge and experience with the next generation. The channel shares the same name as his popular book, and is designed to help people at the beginning of their careers. It includes some fascinating studies on buildings and how they have been designed to combat particular challenges. |
AuthorFaris Mousa is an entrepreneur based in Manchester who has worked on many residential and commercial projects. Faris Mousa is Director of Bluefig Investments (UK) Limited. It is a property investment and urban regeneration company. The company was incorporated on 2nd December 2014 and has registered offices located at 260 – 268 Chapel Street, Salford, Manchester, M3 5JZ Archives
July 2023
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