Castlefield Viaduct Concept Vision

Castlefield Viaduct

Concept Vision

A response to community, nature, history and beauty

Manchester’s smile.

If it’s first dates or growing stakes, coffee with gran or community plans.

Whether honey or history, our Castlefield curve is a platform that elevates.

The story is wild, industrial and proud of its heritage, where blue, green, grey strata overlay and interplay past, present, future. A beautiful tapestry of humans and nature.

From hard-working rails to art trails, wagtails and night-time light trails.

These are our city’s tales.

Potting sheds, picnics and poets –a place that’s for people.

A neighbourhood balcony with its views and news, enjoying skylines and family good times.

Walks, talks, a run with the dog, memories of ancestors then off to the pub.

Meander, dwell, dawdle, or get a shift on – our feast for the senses has something for everyone.

Practical, beautiful, a nod, a wink; not quite a mile but Manchester’s smile is wide and welcoming.

A place for people and nature, a highlevel green oasis.

Coffee with Gran.

“Come to the markets, enjoy a coffee, bring a picnic, watch a performance – our village hall is a beacon that brings us together.”

Potting sheds & growing stakes.

“A place to grow and gather. Honey, tomatoes, wildflowers – you name it, these structures and frameworks help us cultivate and appreciate the fruits of our labours.”

Art trails and wagtails.

“I love this platform for art and of all kinds of culture – within an environment that lets nature thrive.”

A Neighbourhood balcony.

“This is such a community asset, with the best views!”

Multi-generational, integrated play trails.

“We come here all the time – sometimes with grandad! It’s easy to get to. We can play in the park, or learn new things about nature.”

The viaduct is in Manchester and connects towards Salford and Trafford.

We’re presenting an ambitious vision to breathe life into a historic piece of Manchester’s hidden heritage.

“Our ambition for the Castlefield Viaduct, is to create a place like no other. A place which reaches beyond its potential. A genuine City detour which inspires, that serves a diverse range of people and ages with a diverse range of ideas. A place which drives the success of Manchester. We want to create a place which feels great to be in.”

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Vision and aims

2.1 A place for all

2.2 Six pillars

2.3 Structure

2.4 People

2.5 Place

2.6 Nature

2.7 Storytelling

2.8 Travel

3.0 Design approach and principles

3.1 Our key principles

3.2 Design approach

4.0 Seven character areas

4.1 Overview 4.2 Castlefield platform 4.3 Global garden 4.4 Village hub 4.5 Strawberry gardens

4.6 The lookout

4.7 Cottonopolis

4.8 Pomona walk

5.0 Design manual

5.1 Aspirations

5.2 Character

5.3 Materiality

5.4 Identity

5.5 Planting

5.6 Ecology

5.8 Street furniture and paving

5.7 Lighting

6.0 Appendix

6.1 Green oasis

6.2 Community

6.3 Identity

6.4 Visibility

6.5 Resilience

6.6 Connection

6.7 Memorability

6.8 Safety

1.0 Introduction

The National Trust is taking a big step forward to bring to life the Castlefield Viaduct, a 330-metre long Grade II-listed viaduct that sits as a major heritage asset and travel route in Manchester’s oldest area.

Castlefield Viaduct will become a destination in its own right. Connecting people and places and become a springboard to building a lasting legacy for nature in the heart of Manchester.

Keeping the character and DNA of the viaduct, whilst making the most of what it can offer. It will create a vibrant peoplefocussed experience that leaves us all with a smile on our face, a sense of pride, joy and wellbeing.

Vision and aims

A place for all.

2.2 Six pillars

Structure

Respect a landmark

People

Strengthen community

Place

A place that is connected to the past and ready for the future.

Nature

Nurture nature in an urban environment.

Storytelling

Set the scene for a rich experience with a strong identity.

Travel

More than A-B (But A-B is good!)

2.3 Structure

Treasure what we have, enhance it through thoughtful design and maximise its impact to do good.

Let’s revitalise and celebrate this extraordinary, post-industrial Manchester landmark by creating an exciting destination that’s free to access, in the oldest part of the City.

We’ll remind ourselves the viaduct is an engineering feat that played a great role in our past and has an important part to play in our future.

We’ll place the nature, beauty and history at the front of everything we do, for everyone to share.

Deliver a series of interconnecting spaces and places which lead through a compelling landscape and make the viaduct the star of the show.

Create a visual gateway that:

Preserves the heritage, character and grandeur of this iconic landmark

Gives it a new purpose and future and a new story for the viaduct’s future

Considers how it looks at night and during the day

Emphasises signposting and how to find us

Demonstrates how we’ve conserved a historical landmark

Illuminates the architecture

Strengthen

community Remember –

We’ll work with people to power our vision.

By working with and for local people, the viaduct will be a springboard to projects on and off site in the wider community –connecting people to each other and nature.

Our vision will be led by the input and support of local stakeholders, residents and volunteers to create a meaningful canvas for all.

Make a place that has meaning, a place that is forged through partnership.

Work in ways that:

Understand the barriers to nature and support people to overcome those barriers

Empower the community, local groups, stakeholders and users to determine the future ambition and design of the Viaduct

Set the scene to create a legacy for all

Encourage links with the creative community and city-wide institutions to grow creative culture related activity on the viaduct

Nurture nature in an urban environment

Putting Greater Manchester on the map; our international outlook matches our local ambition.

Make a virtue of Castlefields (visibly) layered history whilst building a vibrant place that is both linked to the area’s future growth and its connection to the wider city region.

Help a growing area of the city reach its full potential to make a public space that is of exceptional quality and creates civic pride.

Drive tourism and boost the local economy by taking root in, and helping build upon, our position in Greater Manchester’s wider cultural outlook.

Retain, recycle and adapt the successful features and elements of Phase 1 within plans for Phase 2. Futureproof the Viaduct with useful infrastructure that: Combines real-life experiences and digital interactions Connects with the city region and its neighbourhoods

Is safe and welcoming Explores the relationships between the street, canal and the upper structure

Creates a variety of different scaled spaces and structures, that are both open and closed, permanent and pop-up, secluded and celebratory Create viewpoints and vistas across the city region

A place that is connected to the past and ready for the future

The viaduct will be a place that’s good for our wellbeing and our planet. The viaduct will be a good place, a safe place.

Shape a healthy place that brings people closer to nature and gives relief from the urban bustle through an immersive landscape and engaging environment.

Highlight a strong connection between environment, people and nature – encourage an ecosytem that contributes to improving Biodiversity Net Gain and Urban Greening in Manchester.

Amplify our access to a green and blue experience that the planting and canal and river-side aspect will bring.

Create a place with nature at the heart, for the enjoyment of everyone.

ideas that: Adopt a mantra of ‘wild and wonderful’ Maximise biodiversity and sustainability

Through climate change adaption, take onboard the wider plans for the city to help future resilience Develop planting and growing schemes that empowers people to be involved and engaged Create a green space that supports positive health and well-being Create a landscape that is flexible and changes with the seasons

Storytelling

Set the scene for a rich experience with a strong identity

Keep our ambitions sky-high; Manchester’s balcony is where important things happened and will happen again.

Bring cultural, social, ecological, musical, literary and political influences to shape the identity through the lens of the Viaduct’s distinctive story to create a compelling park-like experience.

Castlefield’s and Manchester’s DNA will be at the heart of our ideas, fuelled by the people who who live and work there and demonstrate a unique perspective on (and of) the city.

2.8 Travel

More than A-B

(But A-B is good!)

Be active or passive, pass through or spend time – give our community and visitors choices.

Bring people into the city as part of an active transport route. Support local journeys by becoming a stepping stone to other parts of the city, enhance connectivity by linking up Greater Manchester, Trafford, Salford and beyond.

We’ll also create the right conditions where you can wander, run, cycle or walk the dog.

The viaduct will be a place for healthy travel and leisure activities.

Design approach and principles

3.1 Design approach and principles

Our key principles

Fundamentally, the vision and ambition for Castlefield Viaduct is a process of co-design, shaped by the communities and stakeholders that will use, benefit and care for this exceptional Manchester landmark.

First and foremost people want this to be a green space; where they can rest, relax in nature. The viaduct should be a place where community is nurtured and local people can use it daily. It should become an equitable public space that everyone can use.

It should be a place that respects the structure and its journey. Celebrate that it is an old rail line, it supported the industrial success of Manchester, and the social history of the people who built it.

“Make it a bold, beautiful space. Make it a place with zones and areas of different moods, textures and tempos. Make it worthy of its setting.”

Here we summarise our key principles that guide the future ambition of the Viaduct.

Green Oasis Community Identity

Visability

Resilience Connection

Memorability Safety

3.2 Design approach

Following the study of a series of spatial options a preferred approach was reached. This is one, inspired by the lattice pattern of the viaduct structure and the interconnected layers of City below.

Weaving paths display a flow and a curve that resonates with the waterways and the wider curve of the viaduct.

This approach is one that reveals itself (rather than a straight line). By having more than one route, intertwining paths, create choice and opportunity to twist and turn, sub-divide and come back together, with secondary routes that can break down into smaller spaces. This creates better circulation, and interest; pace can vary between fast and a slow, routes can be playful and purposeful, spaces can be immersive or open to the key vantage points and views of the City.

The design appoach creates a slowing down of the journey to lengthen the experience, dwell time and evoke a sense of discovery, coziness and intimacy. By intertwining and weaving the experience allows greater opportunity to relate with the surrounding context, buildings, panoramas, vistas and frame glimpses.

Interwining Paths

Lattice

Weaving Cityscape

Seven character areas

Castlefield platform

Castlefield arrival area

Holding and waiting space A meeting point

Information and interpretation

Roman Gardens and Fort

Nation Trust welcome building

Solid facade with interpretation 4.1 Overview

Global garden

Celebration of international planting

Bold and colourful

Colour cascading as seen from the street

Immersive and lush

Goods bringing new species and culture

Playful, informal, fun and educational

Strawberry gardens

Oasis and refuge

Cornbrook Strawberry and the lost Pleasure Gardens

Recreation / Activity / Social space

Drinks Book club Coffee van

Incidental pop-ups Colour Flowering

Changeable space Lanterns

Covered spaces

The docks / Salford Quays / Transportation

Cotton Coal / Steel rails Canals

Sustainable / Water storage vessels

Raingardens Riparian edge

Habitat creation / Wildlife refuge

Biodiversity focus / Pollinators

Naturalistic

Panorama Views across the city Woodland into grassy fields

Wavy / Feathered

Shelter / City gazing / Sun gazing

Tram spotting / People watching

Arrival

Pomona walk

Zone 01. Castlefield platform

Our Castlefield-Deansgate arrival zone and eastern gateway onto the viaduct. A warm welcome from the NT team and visitor centre. An interpretation wall sets the scene for the journey through the viaduct's seven zones and its place in history. Connecting to the Roman story, the birth of Manchester, the birth of the railways, the Industrial Revolution.

Beginning of the journey, welcoming safe arrival 03. Local history expressed through design

04. Fantastical viaduct structure to celebrate and showcase 05. Capturing the special architectural detailing 06. A bold and colourful landscape

07. Artistic interpretation

08. An immersive experience bringing people closer to nature

02. Roman Gardens and Roman Fort, the beginning of Manchester

Precedents

Zone 02. Global garden

Lush and cascading colours herald the new world. People, culture, trade. A bright and welcoming playful zone for young ones (and spritely old ones!).

A green, immersive oasis that is bold, beautiful and bountiful, escaping the urban bustle below.

Informal play and learning

Immersive and bold planting to create a green oasis

04. Capturing an imporant elevated vantage point over the city 05. Temporary canopy

03. Interweaving network of paths to explore and discover

Precedents

Our community growing zone, a place to gather, be active, learn and participate. An amphitheatre provides a place for performance and stories, or simply somewhere to reflect and pause. A place that evolves with the seasons and flexes to suit the occasion. Our community plots, connecting, changing, animating. Micro-sites with a pond and trellis, spring markets, a winter wonderland, and the scent of summer blooms fill the air.

Zone 03. Village hub

01. Entering the community plots, a social destination for the viaduct

Changing plots led by the community for activity or quieter experiences

04. Village Hub, green house, messy shed, growing areas, room for horticulture and cultivation

02.

03. Retained trees and planting from the Pilot Scheme

05. Amphitheatre, social heartspace, a place to learn, teach and perform

Zone 04. Strawberry gardens

The midway point in the journey and the opportunity for oasis and refuge; a green and sheltered space inspired by the 19th century lost recreation gardens, Cornbrook ‘Strawberry Gardens’. Pop-up sculpture, pop-up coffee, winddown atmosphere. Its lanterns and festoon lighting give an intimate and magical night-time experience.

01. Smaller spaces to create different moods, textures and tempos

04. Room for change and different activities, from cafe pop-up to a reading room

03. Playfulness is brought into different spaces

02. Planting creates colour, texture and enclosure

05.

Pleasure gardens for recreation inspired by the 19th century Cornbrook Strawberry Gardens

Precedents

Zone 05. The lookout

Moving between inside and outside.

From the shelter of canopy to the vast panorama and exposure of sky and City.

Open, with flowing grasses, a wild zone with an elevated view giving impressive perspectives and vistas across the rising cityscape. Rugged and breathtaking.

Spotting to sun gazing.

Tram

01. A place to pause and enjoy the view

02. Sign posting the viaduct from street level, a landmark, portal for the city

04. Trackside story telling

06. Landscape character, overhead structures, shelter from the weather

03. Creative interventions, lighting a landmark

05. A city crossroad, palimpsest as the viaduct reaches over the Mancuian Way

08. Visual interplay with the resting trams as they wait to enter the station

07. Stepped structure from which to see and be seen –tram spotting to city gazing

Precedents

A water zone inspired by Manchester's industrial heritage. A sustainable reservoir that fills cascading containers creating pools of life, giving rise to micro habitats of their own. Reflecting the open sky by day, the stars at night and the waterways below. Cotton and coal become the catalyst for a sculptural experience – and a metaphor for the innovative period of the industrial revolution. The zone also lets us think about what lies beneath our feet – the waterways below – helping to imagine the strata of historic and geological elements on our journey.

Zone 06. Cottonopolis

Drawing inspiration from the waterways below, reimagining the historic and geologicalelements of the journey

A zone inspired by Manchester's industrial heritage and the transport of coal and cotton

Sustainable reservoirs that fill, cascading container creatings pools of life

03.

02.

04. Rise of micro habitats 01.

06. A place to pause, enjoy the view, and connect with

05. Creative interventions, lighting a landmark

Precedents

A treetop, riverside walk. Beacons and archways herald our arrival (or departure) that ramps up from Pomona Island. An orchard zone that pays homage to the Greek goddess of fruit and symbolises a productive, healthy environment and attitude. A notable confluence of the three Manchester waterways, a gateway and future active connection between Salford and Trafford and Manchester.

Pomona walk

Re-wilding including native trackside species, and hibernacular for foraging bees and pollinators

02. Orchard zone, homage to character zone naming

01. Creative art screen that tells the story of the viaduct in one direction and shares glimpses of the trams in another

04.

05. Walkway to and from Pomona Island

03. Treetop experience

Precedents

Design manual

Precedents

Black Coated Steel Corten Concrete Wood

Taking inspiration from coal

High contrast, therefore good legability with the white text / graphics

For site information and wayfinding Stands out amongst the planting scheme

Reflecting the textures and ageing of the viaduct surfaces For information and storytelling

Compliments the structure and planting scheme

Hard and robust For information and storytelling

Design language motifs

Constrast against the soft planting

Furnishings

Eelevated seating, benches, planters

Nod to railway sleepers

Complimentary to planting

Storytelling and interpretation

Interpretation and placemaking design incorporated into new surfaces, seating and screens

Using a toolkit of icons and motifs to signpost and inform

Behind the identity

A stencil typeface links back to the industrial heritage and how supplies would be marked as they move through Manchester and beyond. Development in type, and coordination with when to use National Trust typeface.

Brand personality

Our

personality

is bold, inventive & upbeat.

Marques and how they inspired our iconography

Marque

Precedents

Base with options for changeable panels would future proof and allows for longevity and things to adapt.

The shape design allows wheelchairs room to access and get close

Signage shapes which fit with the industrial typology and trackside environment. The edges provide another surface with space for information / branding.

Using the structure / barrier edges. Engaging with the view and city beyond, turning a safety feature into a space for storytelling.

Wildlife and planting concepts

Planting

Castlefield Platform & Global Garden

Village hub

Strawberry Gardens

The lookout

Cottonopolis

Pomona walk

Historic

industrial indentity and cultural identity

Seasonality / Seasonal longevity Enclosure

Interpretation and signage

Spring:

Extending the pollination season

Floral interest in herbaceous gaps

Summer:

Variety of colour and texture

Native / Straight species alongside non-natives and cultivars which attract wildlife

Autumn: Leaf colour

Berries and fruit for birds

Harvest

Winter:

Retained seed heads for birds and small mammals

Evergreen structure

Winter flowering species

Planting around the Viaduct

The green and blue infrastructure on the viaduct creates a valuable stepping stone for wildlife, allowing species to move freely between habitats and food sources, as part of a city network of gardens, pocket parks, rooftops and balconies.

Pollinating native species alongside non-native nectar-rich planting maximise opportunities for biodiversity. A layered arrangement of fruiting, flowering species, and areas left as 'wild pockets' for nature, create seasonal shelter and sustenance for birds, bats, small mammals, amphibians and beneficial insects.

A flora report of the Pomona Island area identifies the presence of thirty-three biologically important species including the bee orchid which is listed as rare in Greater Manchester and found only at four other sites.

Adding new life to the Viaduct

Cinnabar

Hard landscape material palette

Viaduct surfaces

The proposed surfacing palette emphasises and celebrates the Viaduct’s robust, post-industrial character and the tones, colours and material of the Manchester and Salford’s cityscape. The exposed aggregate in the concrete walkways would be locally sourced to the Manchester geology.

Materials also reflect the red and blue brick of the viaduct structure and surrounding architecture, and patterns cut into steel and timber continue to develop a distinct, authentic and unique railway vernacular.

There is also a unique opportunity to explore the use of Concretene, a graphene-enhanced admixture for concrete, engineered to improve performance and sustainability. This could bring to the project an authentic Manchester discovery and working with the University of Manchester’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), explore the use of a truly innovative surface material for Castlefield Viaduct.

Secondary routes

Main footpath - concrete

walkway with exposed agregate

Secondary concrete surfaces in warm tones for open areas

Retained timber decking from Pilot Phase

Stepping stones and gravel for infor-

mal paths on the open Viaduct

Perforated steel grate for secondary routes and spaces

Staffordshire blue brick to match surrounding red and blue brick detailing

Street furniture palette

Screens and edges

The proposed palette of furniture items combines slatted hardwood timber, weathered steel features and fixings, concrete and natural stone into a simple and refined design language.

Materials are chosen to ensure sustainability, longevity and ease of maintenance. Where possible details, fixings and finishes will be standardised across the project. The robust, post-industrial character has to be emphasised, complimenting the unique Viaduct structure, the lattice and the overhead gantries with robust and exposed rivets and fixing details.

An iterative shop drawing and design review process will be undertaken to review buildability and costings.

A simple suite of diamond wire mesh infill panelled balustrade, alongside glazed panelling at key viewpoints will provide protection and safety at the edge of the viaduct.

Raised steel edges and low retaining steel planters will create a natural edge finish within the planted areas and provide opportunity for larger shrubs and trees to be positioned on the viaduct.

The feature screen between Metrolink and the walkways to be constructed in a sawtooth pattern containing both a transparent and opaque screen depending on the direction of travel. The opaque screen will reveal interpretation of the Viaduct journey whilst the transparent screen will allow views of the passing trams.

Landscape structures Ramps and stairs

The project design language establishes a simple palette of element finishes including local stone aggregates, concrete, steel and timber. These materials are applied across the various elements to ensure cohesion and consistency.

Accessible ramps, lifts and staircases will provide the vertical connection along keys positions on the Viaduct. Please refer to the vertical access document for further information.

Skyline and night time image

The nocturnal image of Castlefield Viaduct is envisioned to be made up of two parts in correspondence with its structure. The semi-open metallic structure is conceptualized to feature consistent and cohesive lighting from one end to the other by illuminating its key structural components.

However, the second section of the viaduct is envisaged as an abstract arrangement of lit/reflective objects when viewed from a distance - converging to shape a curve.

Essentially, both lighting concepts are strategically designed to accentuate the overall curve of Manchester when seamlessly integrated.

Semi open / covered

Open Viaduct

Viaduct analysis - plan and elevation

Immersive, active and engaging

Night-time interpretation of - the Viaduct

Movement and kinetic

Experience

The Viaduct is not just a destination, its a journey of different experiences. Lighting can play a vital role in curating these immersive and engaging experiences and thus, bring people together from all walks of life.

Key design considerations

Possible lighting interventions

Flexible pockets of communal spaces, areas with different moods

Walkways and curated spaces - gardens, plots, structures, outdoor rooms, place for events, terraces and pop-up activities

Opportunity for play, education and discovery.

Shadow wall - reactive to person’s shadow when the moves

Stained glass immersive experience - for people to pause and interact with colour. Could be integrated with shelter spaces, benches and greenhouse area.

Forest of lights - lighting columns integrated with green pocket to create visually interesting miniatures of glowing forests

Playful lighting interventions, temporary and permanent, fun and inviting, fun and inviting

Light patterns and projections - to distinguish spaces, add character and build atmosphere

Emerging masterplan concept – Dedicated activity areas

A green oasis in the sky

Immersive, sensory and visually stimulating, connecting people to nature

Green infrastructure, e.g horticulture, trees, biodiverse-rich planting including natives, re-wilding and vertical green screens

Increased ecology and biodiversity Seasonal variety and interest

Variety of tree and shrub species for different nesting birds and bats

Pollinator plants for beneficial insects and butterflies

existing natural areas

Precedents

Community a space for people, festivity, fun and occasion

Concept and precedents

Identity – railway, vernacular and Manchester's DNA

Identity and personality through materiality, planting and lighting

Celebrating the rich heritage and social culture

Telling social stories engaging with artists

Envionmental graphic design to create a 'sense of place', embrace the visual aspects of wayfinding and communicate indentity and information

Celebrating gateways, bridges, and the layered cityscape

Wayfinding cues that are provided like signs and maps to feel comfortable

Precedents

Visibility – veins of Manchester

Celebrating the landmark presence of the viaduct within Manchester's skyline

Seeing the City from a unique perspective and vantage point

Visual interaction with the trams

Making the Viaduct authentic to its journey and setting

Lighting design that is innovative, sustainable and enhances character

Opportunity to turn up or down the visibility depending on the occasion

Resilience – SuDS, management, maintenance and climate change

Design for ease of future maintenance, management and maintenance plan to be key part of next steps

Planting to be offset from historic structure for future maintenance

Responsible sourcing, specification and siting of materials

Detail design of repairs to historic structure to consider full life cycle & appropriate specification

Design of materials and planting to be resilient, robust and appropriate to use

Responsible use of potable water, and innovative rainwater harvesting

Precedents

Connection past, present & future

Celebrating the rich heritage of the viaduct and its surrounding communities

Celebrating social culture with spaces that can be used by SIM and Factory and other cultural

Attracting the influx of people from a growing city population

A destination, a tourism generator

Creating a legacy for future generations to enjoy

Improving access and connections between the viaduct and its neighbourhood

Precedents

Memorability

Having an authentic Identity and personality

Telling social stories and engaging with artists

Creating platform spaces for different activities, events and installations to take place throughout the year

Combining real-world experiences with digital interaction using the app. for an exceptional visitor experience

Intuitive wayfinding cues that are provided like signs and maps to feel comfortable

A variety of active and passive spaces, which people want to revisit and experience differently

Safety – lighting, connection and access

Management of the space will ensure that select measures are planned to ensure the safety and comfort of visitors

Accessible vertical access facilities and structures are planned for all mobility requirements

Staff and volunteers will provide information, security and safety for visitors

Lighting will be carefully designed and planned to ensure reassuring level of comfort and safety

Rigorous design processes, including continuous CDM and health and safety risk assessment will monitor safety throughout the project

Open sight lines ensure passive surveillance, but respectful of neighbouring residences