Property News: Alternative MIPIM held; Keynote city book launched; 3D model allows users to fly around city

MORE than 200 property professionals gathered in Yorkshire yesterday to hold an ‘Alternative MIPIM’ event.

The event was held for those who haven’t travelled to the annual MIPIM property conference which is being held in Cannes this week.

Developers, agents, property lawyers and financiers attended the event, which was held at restaurant La Grillade in Leeds and sponsored by King Sturge, NM-UK and Perspective Financial Management.

Colin Fell, of the Leeds office of King Sturge, said the event had been a success and that valuable networking and business had been achieved. 

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A NEW book on the architecture of Leeds has been launched by RIBA president Sunand Prasad, Leeds civic architect John Thorp and managing director of Quarmby Construction, David Jones.

Leeds: Shaping the City, published by RIBA Publishing, was written by northern editor of The Guardian, Martin Wainwright, and tells the story of the rebirth of Leeds as a major urban centre and how contemporary architecture has been woven into the fabric of traditional buildings.

It also includes contributions by John Thorp, who has masterminded the development of the Renaissance Framework for Leeds.

Sunand Prasad, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects said: “The transformation of Leeds is evident for all who visit today, and the physical expression of Leeds’ success – seen everywhere from the trendy clubs and restaurants to the cool city-centre loft apartments – keeps energising new generations of people. The redevelopment and regeneration of Leeds is strongly evident in the attitude of its people, in a return to self confident architecture, and in the re-emergence of a strong sense of place in the city centre.”

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AN innovative 3D computer model of Leeds city centre has been created using technology normally used for computer gaming which allows users to virtually fly or walk around the city.

Global design and engineering consultant, Arup, has developed the model, which provides a tool that can be utilised by architects, developers and planners for a wide range of uses

The model is viewed using computer gaming technology and enables users to virtually fly, walk and circle the streets and buildings of the city centre. It has been showcased for the first time at MIPIM.

Simon Mabey, leader of the city modelling team at Arup said: “Modelling of this type provides 3D images of buildings and infrastructure allowing a highly accurate digital representation and foundation for the whole of the inner city to be created.  It’s also a dynamic tool, changing as the city changes, and enables us to work with developers and designers to look into the future and determine how their proposals interact with the existing building fabric and urban environment.”

Richard Bickers, associate at Arup, added: “3D models can be used as a planning tool to enable masterplan layout options and development proposals to be assessed.  They also record changes to the city as they occur over time and can be used to demonstrate development proposals at consultation events, exhibitions and meetings with the public and other stakeholders.”

The new model unites information from the city council, architects and developers, using a combination of modelling techniques based on building photographs, aerial photography and laser-based data sources to build 3D computer generated environments.  The modelling goes beyond one-dimensional artists’ impressions, giving visions of areas that would not necessarily be seen without using the technology.