Commendation for Best Renovation and Conversion
OFF THE BOIL
Century Buildings, 2-6& 14 St Mary's Parsonage, Manchester M3 2WB
At the time they were acquired for renovation and conversion in 1999, these buildings were called National Buildings, but they are now called Century Buildings, perhaps because it was believed they dated from 1900. In fact, the oldest is Grade II listed and was built in 1905-09 as the head offices of the National Boiler & General Insurance Company to designs by Harry S Fairhurst, and its modern (unlisted) extension was built in 1968 to designs by the same firm.
Assael Architecture was faced with the challenge of converting these two redundant office buildings into a cohesive residential development of 121 apartments that were sold at prices from £200,000 to £1 million. The key was to insert glass-and-steel circulation bridges into the old lightwells of the listed building, thereby linking the two buildings without any major modifications to the fabric of the listed building (though a pitched roof extension behind the parapet was replaced by 19 new apartments in a lightweight two-storey structure that also supports new balconies on the rear façade overlooking the River Irwell).
The Sixties building was re-clad in a manner more suited to a residential building, by retaining its floor-to-ceiling glazing but adding timber panels, new floors on top and new balconies on the rear. A cantilevered walkway has also been provided at the rear of both buildings that will eventually become part of a riverside walk along the North bank of the Irwell.
Homebuilder: CREST NICHOLSON (LONDON) LIMITED
Trinity Place, 21-29 Thames Street, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 8JG
Tel 01932 840999
Fax 01932 844550
Website: www.crestnicholson.com
Contact: Michelle Harris, Sales & Marketing Director.
Email: mharris@crestnicholson.com
Architects: ASSAEL ARCHITECTURE LIMITED
Studio 13, 50 Carnwath Road, London SW6 3EG
Tel 020 7736 7744
Fax 020 7736 6677
Website: www.assael.co.uk
Contact: Rachelle Munsie, Marketing Manager.
Email: rachelle@assael.co.uk
