Welcome to Manchester Confidential
Reset Password
Architecture
You are here: Manchester Confidential › Culture › Architecture.
New Library Theatre/Cornerhouse Image Released
What do we think folks? Is this glimpse getting us excited?
It's hoped the new cultural centre will act as a catalyst to the wider regeneration of the whole First Street site
This will be the new home for the merged Cornerhouse and Library Theatre Company, subject to planning permission being granted. This page shows how it will look.
The plans for the 60,000 sq ft centre incorporate two theatres with seating capacities of 500 and 150 respectively, five cinema screens, together with galleries and restaurants, overlooking a new public space. The scheme architect is Mecanoo, which won an international design competition.
It's hoped the new cultural centre will act as a catalyst to the wider regeneration of the whole First Street site and its neighbourhood, bringing the area to life through increased footfall and helping create a strong sense of place.
First Street 'Cultural Centre'
A separate planning application has also been submitted by Ask for a neighbouring 2.2 acre site in First Street North comprising a four-star hotel, 30,000 Sq ft of retail and leisure space, a budget hotel and a multi-storey car park.
A planning decision on the cultural centre is expected in April. Subject to planning permission being granted, work is expected to start on site later this year, with the new centre opening in late summer 2014.
This should be a good year for cultural real estate in Manchester with Central Library due to re-open as well. Click here for the latest pictures from that project.
When the full Mecanoo plans and images are released Confidential will follow-up with an article discussing their merit. The released image has a whiff of Hall, O'Donohue and Wilson's startling 1968 extension to the Liverpool Playhouse about it.
Liverpool Playhouse
Like what you see? Enter your email to sign up for our newsletters which are chock-a-block with more great videos, food reviews, news, deals and savings.
13 comments so far, continue the conversation, write a comment.
Latest Rants
I like the way that sculpture in Manchester Town Hall celebrates people who really achieved…
Read moreThis is a fascinating story, and I would very much like to get involved. My Master's dissertation at…
Read moreCheeky bugger Tom. You put a link to your story on Confidential but no link to us on yours....
Read moreI really like the Ancient Egyptian columns by Salford station and the hypostyle hall of columns…
Read more
Offers
- Blackdog Ballroom NWSBlack Dog Ballroom NWS is here – with 50% off all food
- Castlefield Clinic - Vitamin C FacialSAVE 50% Murad Vitamin C Facial £27.50pp
- MC Cafe Bar and Grill at ABode Manchester2 course lunch with wine for £9.95 at MC Café Bar and Grill
- Michael CainesEnjoy fine dining at lunchtime for less with the Amazing Graze menu at Michael Caines
- Introducing... FESTWICHA FREE FESTIVAL for Manchester
- Grill on New York Street50% off food at The Grill on New York Street
- French ConnectionReceive a complimentary gift when you spend £75 at French Connection in Selfridges.
- Castlefield Clinic - Murad Firming TreatmentSAVE 50% Murad Firm and Tone Body Treatment £22.50
- Bohemia Bar And Grill CastlefieldSteak Feast Platter For Two: Enjoy four cuts of the finest steak, plus classic sides, and a glass of wine each for just £16 pp
- Nicky Clarke Hairdressers, Manchester£30 haircuts at Nicky Clarke
- Manchester 235 Poker Lounge£30 Head Hunter Freezeout and 'Learn to Play' Beginners Tournament, Sat 26 May - Secure your place for FREE
- The Hacienda Reborn At Australasia For £20: Monday 21 MayDon't miss out - Australasia's Hacienda party tickets for £20
- Rail Ale TrailEast Lancashire Railway's Rail Ale Tours
- Simple - Strictly Deal4 cocktails for just £20
- Dry BargeHop aboard for a party with a difference
- Zaika - Strictly Deal£19.99: 3 courses a la carte + glass of wine
The proposed tram route down Deansgate would have made this area far more accessible
Er... no, it wouldn't. Sounds like you need to check where this site is.
Nearest tram stop is still Deansgate Castlefield - but a stone's throw from First Street (if you use the correct staircase).
It's across from Deansgate/Castlefield Metrolink Station, Deansgate train station and 5 minutes walk from Oxford Road train station. Hardly unaccessible.
The tree in the foreground looks nice.
I like the flock of birds too.
I like the pram. Looks like one of those nice Silver Cross ones.
Come on, take this seriously!! I want a red balloon too!!!
..yes a nice red balloon tree!
I like how the people on the right bottom left are all staring at the building like it's the Great Pyramid of Giza
We've seen buildings before, its the ideas and energies generated by the people working and using them that counts. Fingers crossed.
"The released image has a whiff of Hall, O'Donohue and Wilson's startling 1968 extension to the Liverpool Playhouse about it."
Has a whiff of something about it, thats for sure.
By the look of it those birds are vultures wheeling over the corpse of the Cornerhouse's present home.
Based solely on that image I think it looks good. A short, broad and curved over-hang, somewhat reminiscent of (or with a whiff of) No.1 The Avenue, juxtaposed with a long, narrower pointed over-hang.
I can't imagine any reason that I would stop going to see independent films in this attractive new building, so on the basis that other film fans in this sizeable city do the same and that the Library Theatre continues to attract crowds as they had done previously, I feel sure that this will be a successful transition and hopefully it will achieve the aim of invigorating life in to First St.
With the office block that is already built, forthcoming hotels and retail space for 2014, shouldn't this be being received more positively?
These latter days I need full waterrproof gear to get there I think you need a taxi and I don't really fancy either Deansgate stations in the dark.
There must be a proper plan in the planning application showing the car parks coach stops etc. And will the retail include 'leisure' like the Printworks or Deansgate Locks?
The real problem is that is this an official Arts Centre type thing (bit last century) air lifted as it were to this location. It's not very Manc.. got no soul.
Why do artists' impressions rarely show a new building's location in relation to existing structures and thoroughfares? It would certainly enhance the 'impression' if they did.
I was thinking the same thing trying to picture exactly where it is going on the site
No, less concrete, more grass?! Wouldn't some grass verges be nice? eh? eh?
why can't we get rid of the idea that glass is beautiful... they look horrendous, they are cheap with no class. manchester is now full of them and they continue to sprout more and more....... what happened to good architecture? when buildings represented culture, class, inheritance of a city .........
I like the cinema and gallery complex where it is on Oxford Street. It's been there a long time and has a great atmosphere on a busy corner of the city on a major route from the university to the city centre. It seems to be a favourite haunt of the arts students and the city's arts community generally. It might be nice to have a smart new building on First Street but does anyone know what's going to happen to the buildings on Oxford Road? It would be a shame to lose them as an arts centre.