Architecture Report
Architecture Group Trip to Manchester 29th July 2010
Recently 20 members of the Architecture Group spent a very interesting & enjoyable day in Manchester, visiting 2 of its many outstanding buildings. First we had an excellent guided tour of the Bridgewater Hall, claimed by many to be the best concert venue in the world.
The hall took 3½ years to build. The architects, chosen by competition, were Renton Howard Wood Levin, who worked in very close co-operation with Arup Acoustics. Severe problems of noise & vibration, arising from the site’s location adjacent to major road & tramway routes, dictated the unique structure of the building.
Essentially the hall has been constructed to the highest anti-earthquake standards. Our tour included the foundations, to inspect some of the 300 giant springs on which the whole structure so that there is a gap of about 1 cm between the foot of all walls & the ground!
The building is constructed of reinforced concrete and glass. It is shaped roughly like a ship or kite, with the “prow” pointing directly towards the statue of Prince Albert in the eponymous Square, at the heart of the city centre. This sharp angle is repeated throughout the building. There are few curves in the design, apart from the columns, the “Touchstone” sculpture outside the main entrance and the “waves” installation behind the reception desk. The massive windows and the use of glass “walls”, e.g. in the Circle Bar, flood the front of house areas with natural light.
The auditorium itself is magnificent. The 2400 seats are tiered around the performance area, with only the massive organ occupying about one side of the (albeit irregular) octagon. The space is lit by an extensive & beautiful “chandelier”. A flexible system of fabric & wooden curtains alter the acoustics for different types of performance (orchestra, pop group, spoken word etc.), When the hall is being used as a recording studio the technicians operate their equipment from a glass-floored area under the ceiling. What a head for heights they must have! Photography is not allowed in the auditorium, as flash may trigger the security alarm system.
The Bridgewater Hall houses 3 resident orchestras (chief of which is the Hallé) and over 250 performances each year. It has exhibition areas, conference facilities, a shop, catering outlets and reception rooms for private functions - something for everybody!
The charge for the tour is £5 each & for organists there is a special option to die for! Details from the Box Office (Phone: 08452500500). Highly recommended!
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Giant Springs -
“Touchstone” sculpture -
“Waves” installation -
A beautiful chandelier
After lunch ”something completely different” - Manchester Town Hall, constructed on a 2-acre triangular site between 1868 & 1877. The architect, Alfred Waterhouse, was also selected by competition. His design is C13th Gothic constructed of 14 million bricks & stone sourced from Yorkshire quarries. The interior is lavishly decorated and the sculpture, tiling, glass etc. are all impressive. Most interesting are the 12 Ford Maddox Brown murals in the Great Hall. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed within the building.
Very many thanks to Jeanne Parrington, who arranged the day.
Article and Photographs by Annie Stephens
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Town Hall 1 -
Town Hall 2 -
Town Hall 3 -
Town Hall 4
