Echoing the earthy red tones of the industrial heritage of Manchester and the surrounding new-build complex, Piccadilly Place is the stunning central plaza of a landmark mixed use development. The incorporation of Wienerberger’s Dutch Clay paving enabled landscape architects Austin-Smith:Lord to complete the scheme with a pallet of complimentary colours and textures.
Masterplanned and conceptualised by award-winning, international architectural practice Austin-Smith:Lord, on behalf of property developer Argent, Piccadilly Place is regenerating and attracting investment to a vibrant and distinctive Manchester City district. The mixed use development includes high quality public realm areas, a hotel, four office buildings, residential accommodation and retail space.
Arrival within Piccadilly Place is celebrated by the sound of water as it cascades down a water-wall and escapes into a broad rill, which draws you into the piazza at the heart of the development. With its simple layout, devoid of any vertical elements, the piazza emphasises the scale of surrounding colonnaded buildings with restaurants, bars and shops spilling out across the space.
Austin-Smith:Lord understood that simplicity of layout places considerable emphasis upon the nature and quality of materials used. The rich colours within the Eindhoven Mixed Red clay pavers add warmth to the main piazza, complementing the contemporary use of porphyry and granite within the water feature, as well as providing a link to the historic terracotta tile and red brick buildings in the vicinity. The striking colour range available from this natural product will endure as the space matures over time.
The Wienerberger Dutch Clay pavers were also selected for their textural qualities: from the fine grain of the surface, through to the stretcher bond within a trapezoidal paving layout, which highlights its elongated geometry.
