Melbourne-based international architects, Denton Corker Marshall, have been selected to design three landmark residential towers within Allied London’s St. John’s neighbourhood, following an architectural design competition.
Dubbed by many as the best residential site in Manchester, St. John’s Living is to be the brand for Manchester’s first city centre, private-rented neighbourhood, which together with St. John’s privately owned accommodation will provide a modern, sustainable and creative neighbourhood for the 21st century.
A number of well-regarded firms submitted interesting and informed design ideas for the towers that will sit within the current St. John’s masterplan by architects, Simpson Haugh. Denton Corker Marshall have a significant track record in designing buildings for the private rental sector, and their submission demonstrated a strong creative approach to the project. As a result, they have been appointed by Allied London to prepare a planning application later this year.
Allied London and Denton Corker Marshall have a strong existing partnership, designing their first UK statement building together to create the award winning Civil Justice Centre in Spinningfields as well as 20 Cannon Street and 28 Savile Row in London.
Michael Ingall, Allied London’s Chief Executive commented; “Notwithstanding our historic and successful partnership with Denton Corker Marshall, they proposed the best architectural solution to a difficult brief. Designing residential towers in Beta cities like Manchester is a challenge within the context of our design values, so we required very experienced and thoughtful architects who understood our core objectives. We are bringing a new product to a new market and we can’t fall short of our design standards. DCM gave us a complete architectural solution that will be exciting and effective.”
James Sidlow, recently recruited to the Allied team from Deloitte LLP, will be heading up the delivery of the new St. John’s Living venture and brand.
Michael Ingall, Allied London’s Chief Executive added; “There are very few in the UK that have real development or operational experience of the true PRS product , but James fully gets this asset class, as well as the St. John’s and Allied London brands. James will add great value to our team and we are lucky to have found someone so committed to the sector.
“We are very serious about PRS. It is very well suited to the St. John’s vision and we have an opportunity here to provide a great new product, to a new market and create an asset class that delivers and sustains both service and value. We proved with the XYZ Building that to be successful you have to pay close attention to detail and we are delighted to be working with Denton Corker Marshall who share this passion.”
James Sidlow added: “The heritage rich St. John’s site represents a new best-in-class city centre neighbourhood providing a place to live, work and play. Set at the heart of the neighbourhood, the landmark PRS towers will take residential design into a new era. Working with Denton Corker Marshall, the towers will combine creative design, unrivalled city views, considered layouts, exciting communal accommodation all bound under a strong Allied London brand and management structure. For the growing young professional sector, the towers will offer an aspirational lifestyle within a unique setting, unsurpassed anywhere else in the city.”
St. Johns Living will begin construction in March 2017.
