{"id":777327,"date":"2025-03-05T17:37:22","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T17:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=777327"},"modified":"2025-03-06T07:41:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T07:41:26","slug":"jon-matthews-architects-converts-manchester-rail-arches-into-arts-spaces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/jon-matthews-architects-converts-manchester-rail-arches-into-arts-spaces","title":{"rendered":"Jon Matthews Architects converts Manchester rail arches into arts spaces"},"content":{"rendered":"

The renovation of the city-centre arches, partly financed through the government\u2019s Levelling Up Fund, has transformed them into a creative talent development centre. The 266m2<\/sup> facility includes co-working areas, rehearsal spaces and a custom-built public exhibition space visible from the street.<\/p>\n

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The arches, which sit under one of Manchester\u2019s busiest railway lines along Whitworth Street West, have been fitted out to provide flexible exhibition spaces able to present work from the sculptural to the digital.<\/p>\n

Named Home Arches, the facility aims to support local creatives by offering 5,000 hours of free making, studio and development space each year. Half of the available space is dedicated to artists from underrepresented groups, including members of the \u2018global majority\u2019, d\/Deaf and disabled artists and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.<\/p>\n

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Architect\u2019s view<\/h3>\n

This was a project to transform forgotten spaces to create hope and joy for anyone using the new facilities. The challenge was to acoustically and environmentally separate each space from the busy railway line above. Three simple brick and glazed volumes plug into each arch, creating a new shopfront for Home on Whitworth Street. These plug-ins sit almost as pieces of furniture, deliberately set forward from the existing Grade II-listed arches, providing depth and relief to the elevation. Designed using a series of robust materials to give texture and craft with a feature steel canopy defining the entrance, a timber and steel staircase and stack bond brickwork create a modern contrast to the existing Victorian viaduct masonry.<\/p>\n

It was a joy of a project, successfully opening what had been a barrier into a new space for creativity and connection and working with a client with civic and artistic vision.
\nSam Ainsley, associate director, Jon Matthews Architects<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Client’s view<\/h3>\n

Home Arches has been a key part of our strategy for artists\u2019 development for many years, so to be opening these new spaces in 2025, our 10-year anniversary, is really special. Home Arches will provide high-quality free space and facilities for artists to develop work, create, share ideas and continue to be supported by Home\u2019s artist development programmes. The investment and support for the arches by our funders, donors and supporters confirm that Manchester values culture and the city continues to grow as a place that artists and creativity can thrive in. Home is excited for the arches to be part of Manchester\u2019s world-leading cultural sector.
\nKaren O\u2019Neill, chief executive, Home<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Project data<\/h3>\n

Start on site<\/strong> May 2023
\nCompletion date<\/strong> October 2024
\nGross internal floor area<\/strong> 266m2\u00a0<\/sup>
\nForm of contract or procurement route<\/strong> NEC3 \u2013 Design and Build
\nConstruction cost<\/strong> \u00a33.2m
\nConstruction cost per m2 <\/sup><\/strong>\u00a312,030 per m2
\n<\/sup>Architect<\/strong> Jon Matthews Architects
\nExecutive architect<\/strong> Sam Ainsley
\nClient<\/strong> Manchester City Council\/ HOME Manchester
\nStructural engineer<\/strong> WSP
\nM&E consultant<\/strong> WSP
\nQS<\/strong> Robertson Construction Ltd
\nAcoustic consultant<\/strong> Hann Tucker
\nProject manager<\/strong> Robertson Construction
\nPrincipal designer<\/strong> Project Four Safety
\nCDM coordinator<\/strong> Project Four Safety
\nApproved building inspector<\/strong> Manchester City Council Building control
\nMain contractor<\/strong> Robertson Construction
\nCAD software used<\/strong> REVIT<\/p>\n

Environmental Performance data<\/h3>\n

Percentage of floor area with daylight factor >2%<\/strong> Anticipated 65%
\nPercentage of floor area with daylight factor >5%<\/strong> Anticipated 25%
\nOn-site energy generation<\/strong> None, due to site constraints
\nAnnual mains water consumption<\/strong> 40l\/per day\/occupant
\nAirtightness at 50pa<\/strong> 3 m3<\/sup>\/h.m2
\n<\/sup>Heating and hot water load<\/strong> 30.28kwh\/m2<\/sup> (calculated: assume 9-5 operational 3.5 days per week for heating) 44,087 kwh\/m2<\/sup>\/yr
\nOverall area-weighted u-value<\/strong> 0.41w\/m2<\/sup>k
\nDesign life<\/strong> 50 years
\nEmbodied \/ whole-life carbon<\/strong> Not calculated
\nAnnual CO2<\/sub> emissions<\/strong> 6.51KgCO2<\/sub>eq\/m2<\/sup><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The renovation of the city-centre arches, partly financed through the government\u2019s Levelling Up Fund, has transformed them into a creative talent development centre. The 266m2 facility includes co-working areas, rehearsal spaces and a custom-built public exhibition space visible from the street. \u00a0 \u00a0 The arches, which sit under one of Manchester\u2019s busiest railway lines along …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32845,"featured_media":777345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[706],"tags":[4782,101537,1163,5964],"yoast_head":"\nJon Matthews Architects converts Manchester rail arches into arts spaces<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The three once-derelict railway arches now complement and extend the adjacent Home arts complex, supporting young and emerging artists\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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