Robust, bold and regimented language of heritage mill buildings inspire modern extension
RIBA North West Award winner 2021
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios for Manchester Life Development Company
Contract value: undisclosed
GIA: 14,344m2
Murrays’ Mills, in Manchester’s Ancoats, is the world’s oldest surviving steam-powered cotton mill. The brief was for the transformation, re-use and extension of the 18th century mills to create new homes and drive regeneration; letting the buildings’ layout and character inform how this was done. Mill Yard is completed by a new build residential building. The site has 124 one-bed to four-bed apartments. Within the mill blocks, bedrooms sit on the outside of the plan, service/wet zones run along the centre and living areas overlook the courtyard. Entrances open onto the courtyard to enliven the shared space and original circulation cores were retained. This inner plaza has been re-enclosed by a new building of modern design, inspired by the robust, bold and regimented language of the mill buildings.