38 High Street, M1

The property development design brief was to produce a landmark building completing the corner of a city block on the entrance to the Smithfield conservation area in the heart of the city centre. Initially a ‘high rise’ building was proposed, however this was revised following negotiations with the local planning authority.

The building’s height was reduced but density maintained with careful planning of forty-nine apartments around a single pressurised lift and stair core with ground floor shop / restaurant unit with communal landscaped terrace above.

The completed building is expressed in two major volumes: the lower one addressing the main street frontage is clad in blue glazed terracotta tiles complementing the existing terracotta and brick facades in the city; the higher one set back clad in patented zinc cladding panels.

Mark Fairhurst was a Associate Architect at Conran & Partners.

Status: Completed

Client: City Loft Developments Plc

Floor Area: 4,500 sq/m