Imperial War Museum North, Manchester, Building, Architect, Pictures, Design, Images

Imperial War Museum North Landscape

IWMN: External Spaces Competition in Trafford Park, Salford, England, UK

16 Nov 2009

Imperial War Museum North Promenade

The design for a pedestrian promenade and public realm area in front of Imperial War Museum North by London-based FoRM Associates has been granted full planning permission on behalf of Peel Media by Trafford council on 12th of November 2009.

The promenade is part of the Irwell City Park project which is being co-ordinated by Central Salford urban regeneration company, in partnership with the three local authorities, Salford, Manchester and Trafford, and the Northwest Development Agency. The project by FoRM Associates will provide a stepped area built over the current canal embankment, providing a walkway and seating area leading down to the water’s edge. The newly created space will extend the existing Trafford canal promenade to the new foot bridge by Wilkinson Eyre Architects currently being built as part of Media City UK to link the Salford and Trafford sides of The Quays.

The IWMN pedestrian promenade will be completed in spring 2010 in time for the first residents moving into Media City UK.

Imperial War Museum North Promenade image / information from FoRM Associates

12 Jun 2009

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM NORTH SELECTS TOPOTEK 1 AS PREFERRED DESIGNERS FOR PROPOSED EXTERNAL DEVELOPMENT

The multi-award-winning Imperial War Museum North (IWMN) has selected a preferred design team to develop the external spaces of the Museum following an RIBA international design competition and public consultation with visitors and key partners.

The proposed scheme was the one which, in the opinion of the selection panel, best addressed a complex brief asking for zones of contemplation, creativity and play which would complement the Daniel Libeskind building. Jim Forrester, Director of IWM North, said: .Having taken submissions from UK and international design teams, the selection panel felt that Topotek 1, based in Berlin, had come up with a great initial concept and were ready to adapt their imaginative ideas to suit the fast-changing environment around the museum. We are very confident that we can work with the Topotek 1 team to arrive at an excellent scheme which will enhance the whole Quays’ experience.”

Topotek 1’s original submission stated:
“The camouflage patterns used by the military are an abstraction of landscapes of combat. These patterns represent a visual average of the natural environment: the muted green, brown, and ochre hues of typical camouflage are a graphic summary of wild and cultivated places. We wish to confront the global scale of war represented by the building with the local scale where battles are fought. War does not only re-configure lines on a world map, but changes everyday landscapes.

We have selected four themes that represent the British landscape: stone, fields, water, and forest. Like the camouflage pattern, these landscapes are condensed into their essential character, and reconfigured in a system of gently tilting planes. This system provides a soft, horizontal, and continuous base for the museum; subtle shifts in elevation and angle accommodate a variety of programmes in a relatively small area. The landscape forms a collage of dignified spaces for reflection, gathering, and play that complements the gravity of the museum’s content.”

The sense of experimental design that is enshrined in the architecture of IWMN continues to be an important consideration for the museum and the development of the external spaces. The new design will include: a new quayside walkway with 24 ¡Vhour access across the water frontage a landscaped garden built over the car-park to give elevated views of IWM North and MediaCity:UK beyond a children’s play area including sensory and kinetic elements spaces for future exhibits and art installations. a water-sculpture as a focus for contemplation and reflection.

These designs are initial concepts and IWMN will now begin the task of fundraising and seeking partners to help realise the project. Once funding has been secured, Topotek I will work closely with the Museum to develop the ideas and create the final scheme. The first phase of development of the outside areas is aimed at completion to coincide with the opening of MediaCity:UK in 2011

IWMN is about people and their stories, about how lives have been and still are, shaped by war and conflict. The Museum is located in Trafford in the rapidly developing Quays regeneration area, and the development of MediaCity:uk on the Quays provides the opportunity to capitalise on the international focus that will soon be on the area, and to create a distinctive destination and context for the museum. The external spaces at IWMN must enhance the museum by reflecting its key message that war shapes lives, against its dramatic exterior, enhancing and expanding the visitor experience to beyond the walls of the internal spaces. There is an opportunity to do something dramatic and spectacular that will at the same time integrate with the extraordinary content and design of Daniel Libeskind.s iconic building which represents a globe shattered by conflict.

An international competition to design and develop the external spaces at IWMN was organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Competitions Office. In September 2008 expressions of interest were received from over 50 architects and landscape architects. 5 shortlisted teams were then invited to come up with design ideas in response to a brief.

IWM North Director, Jim Forrester set the scene at the outset of the competition: “Our stunning Libeskind building continues to generate much interest and argument, and now, with the next phase of the Quays regeneration underway, we are ready to make more of its setting. The challenge is to make the outside areas of the museum as striking, memorable and rewarding as the building and its displays already are. To achieve this we are looking for remarkable designers with ideas which will give even more substance to our mission”.

16 Feb 2009 – Images:

Design Concept A

Design Concept B

Design Concept C

Design Concept D – winner : Topotek 1

Design Concept E

10 Feb 2009

Imperial War Museum North Shortlist Feedback

Visitors to the multi-award-winning Imperial War Museum North (IWMN) between Friday 13 and Wednesday 25 February will be able to view and give their feedback on 5 shortlisted design proposals to develop the external spaces of the Museum.
The shortlisted designs will be on display in the WaterShard Cafe between 10am and 5pm daily where visitors will be asked to complete feedback forms of their views.

27 Nov 2008

Imperial War Museum North – Shortlist

An international shortlist has been chosen to take part in a competition to develop proposals for the external spaces to the multi award-winning Imperial War Museum North (IWMN) in Manchester. They are:

Kinnear Landscape Architects, London, UK
White Arkitekter AB, Goteborg, Sweden
Patel Taylor Architects, London, UK
Topotek 1, Berlin, Germany
Field Operations, New York, USA

IWMN is about people and their stories, about how lives have been and still are, shaped by war and conflict. The museum is located in Trafford in the rapidly developing Quays regeneration area, and the development of MediaCity:uk on the Quays provides the opportunity to capitalise on the international focus that will soon be on the area, and to create a distinctive destination and context for the museum.
Following its announcement in September the competition attracted interest from all over the world, with 54 design teams applying to take part in the competition.

Jim Forrester, director of IWMN set the scene at the outset to the competition : “Our stunning Libeskind building continues to generate much interest and argument, and now, with the next phase of the Quays regeneration underway, we are ready to make more of its setting. The challenge is to make the outside areas of the museum as striking, memorable and rewarding as the building and its displays already are.”

Maggie Mullan, RIBA Architectural Adviser to the competition said : “It was fantastic to get such international interest in this singular project. We are excited with the quality and range of teams we have shortlisted and we are looking forward to seeing their designs in the New Year”.

The teams attended a site visit this week and will now have until the middle of January to come up with their proposals. Once a final proposal is selected IWMN will begin the task of fundraising and seeking partners to help achieve the next step in making this important cultural site (opposite MediaCity and The Lowry) one of the most exciting visitor attractions in the country.

Buildings close by the Imperial War Museum North include the Lowry Centre, Salford, England by James Stirling Michael Wilford and Associates Ltd then Michael Wilford and Partners Ltd then Bain + Bevington Architects Ltd

Imperial War Museum North Competition Shortlist information from RIBA 271108

Address: Imperial War Museum North, The Quays, Trafford Park, Trafford Wharf Rd, Manchester M17 1TZ

Phone: 0161 836 4000

Location: The Quays, Trafford Wharf, Trafford Park, Manchester, Northwest England, UK