Incorporating the building’s rich history to offer points of discovery and interest for users to explore.
Hotspur Press
Manchester
This scheme will see the reinvention and transformation of the existing Hotspur Press former mill building into a mixed-use development consisting of a projecting 27-storey residential tower with ground floor commercial use. We were commissioned to work closely with the multi-disciplinary design team to develop proposals for an engaging and attractive public realm space that would provide a welcoming threshold space for residents, as well as an exciting space for the commercial units to spill out into, creating animation and activation.
The position of the site presents the opportunity for the scheme to function as a key linking space, connecting the facilities and public realm of the adjacent First Street development, through to the Oxford Road Corridor and railway station – all flowing along Manchester City Council’s proposed Creative Ribbon.
Initially built as a Cotton Mill during the Industrial Revolution, the building later became a printing press and for over 70 years printed a huge variety of popular comic books and journals. We incorporated this fascinating history through etched artwork pieces within the surfacing of the public realm.
Project Details
Client: MCR Property
Architect: Hodder and Partners
