AJ 21.05.26: Manchester

Our cover star this month is Andy Burnham – a man making local and national waves. Manchester is a city on the up, literally, and in his role as mayor Burnham is a major driving force behind that. The AJ spoke to him about how the city has become a model for growth and devolution.

There are three building studies which showcase Manchester’s style and spirit: Sheppard Robson’s deep retrofit of a city-centre office; Buttress Architects’ affordable, sustainable housing development in Ancoats; and Project 3 Architects’ flexible workspaces in retrofitted Victorian market halls.

While Manchester is set to become Europe’s fourth tallest city, in its next phase of development it will be spreading outwards with new and greener schemes. In the issue you can read a feature about this, which reveals a concerted effort to increase social and affordable housing over the next decade.

There are also some striking ‘then and now’ pictures of the cityscape from Euan Kellie, which show how far it has developed in just a few decades. Then we round up the best recently completed projects in the city, along with a map showing where all the upcoming developments are located.

Opinion pieces come courtesy of If_Do’s Sarah Castle, who shares her experiences of the city as a returning Mancunian, while Elizabeth Hopkirk argues that historic buildings should be protected amid the redevelopment rush.

Kunle Barker also writes on how to make your practice more resilient, and the Culture section carries a review of a provocative new book by OMA’s Reinier de Graaf which posits that architects have lost all credibility. Discuss!

Rounding out the issue are sketches by Gavin Watts, a competitions compilation, the AJ100 Awards shortlists, and contributions from David Grandorge and Hellman.

£16.00