St John’s towers to be design by Aussie architect

AUSTRALIAN architect company Denton Corker Marshall has been selected to design three landmark residential towers in Allied London’s St John’s neighbourhood, following an architectural design competition.

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.

Allied London said a number of well-regarded firms submitted interesting and informed design ideas for the towers which will sit within the current St John’s masterplan by Simpson Haugh.

Melbourne-based Denton Corker Marshall has a significant track record in designing buildings for the private rental sector, and its submission demonstrated a strong creative approach to the project, said Allied London.

It has  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.  

Allied London chief executive Michael Ingall said: “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.”

“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.”

St John’s Living will begin construction in March 2017.