Manchester based property developers Urban Splash are one of the few that I follow with any excitment and reliability. They are risk takers & exceptional chancers yet still understand people and architecture. In the early noughties, they proposed two radical projects. New Islington, Manchester simply did the unthinkable; place making that was socially conscieos, enganging, site specific, innovative and bright. The masterplan was controversial but exciting - Will Alsop doing a block of flats and a 21st Century Coronation St by FAT; then a practice with little built work to its name. 
Work started on site, then with the initial phases completed the projects were put on hold due to the recession. Then suddenly, from the white cracks on the facades of modernist ideoligians; out came the architectural bearacrats and liberals in critical 'we told you so' voice. However some of us think differently; here's why I think New Islington, Manchester will be a precedent of true place-making for decades to come. 
The initial masterplan proposed all residential accommodation to be within apartment blocks, with existing residents on the site living in degrading two story post war housing to be relocated. The residents collectivley decided that apartment dwelling wasn't for them, thus asked Urban Splash if they could allocate some two story houses into the masterplan, of which was acted upon with FAT (Fashion Architecture Taste) being comissioned to come up with a proposal. I rate this project so highly as its a brilliant demonstration of listening and consulting with clients, but understanding there needs as real people. Architectural 'space' is a subjective illusion that only Architects - highly visually trained, very educated, intellectually orientated people can see. Real people talk about rooms, gardens and corridors etc. FAT visited all the residents houses and got to know them as individuals. Fascinated by how they had modified there interiors to reflect there personality there approach to regenerate the way they live was not based on utopian clean lines and minimalism but to reflect the way these people are. 
Director of FAT, Sean Griffiths calls the approach "a twenty-first century Coronation Street". The houses are laid out with dominant facades and set backs of which the free space allows room for a garage as any cars parked on the street were likely to be broken into. Generous back gardens face each other down the centre, with a route at the back relfecting 19th century Northen English housing enabling the residents to converse with each othere isntead of shutting each other out as they peg there washing out etc. The back facades were painted colours to the residents preference allowing indivuduallity to be expressed.
For me there are only a handful of practices who can work with clients such as this - FAT, the AOC, dRMM and Urban Salon. So I had every confidence in FAT to produce something of interest.
The front facades are designed like a series of segements, almost stage-set like as they front onto the street. Each one is slightly different and the geometry is inspired by the elaborate interiors of the existing residents homes. Allowance for change is acknoledged, with residents free to add what they want to the fron of there homes - hanging baskets, ornament, curious objects, sky dishes etc.
The design is site specific and responsive and understanding of time, place and user. It has opened opinion up to educate people about new apporaches to consultation, design and place making. I have no doubt that this street in New Islington will be a precedent for decades to come.
Coming soon - CHIPS!
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