Plot C5, MediaCityUK

Peel Media Limited

The building is one of seven new developments which together form the next phase of development at MediaCityUK in Salford. The building provides a multi-purpose Food Hall bounded by 10 food and beverage units along with ancillary, service and storage space. All this accommodation is contained within a single-storey building.

Originally envisaged as a kiosk pavilion building or series of buildings forming a perimeter around a covered hall. The brief also suggested an open public space addressing an adjacent residential development immediately to the East. This new element of public realm also connected to adjacent existing and proposed areas of public realm.

Although relatively small in scale when compared to other MediaCity plots, the building will be an object building situated within a new piece of the public realm. The southern frontage of this development forms a backdrop to a new public space; a major amenity for the plot that also benefits existing and proposed building plots. This space in turn links together with adjacent new and existing public spaces forming important linkages and connections throughout the Media City UK campus. Another consequence of the relativity small scale of the plot is that the roof form is an important fifth elevation; adjacent plots will look down onto the plot and surrounding public space.

A proposal emerged which is simple and contemporary. The notion of a contemporary “village hall” developed and the massing and scale of the scheme alludes to this metaphor. The use of pitched roof forms and expressive structure continues this theme.

The form and massing are a result of a dialogue between the plot brief and external context with clear hierarchies being defined. The open gable towards the South which addresses the existing buildings and spaces also defines the new public space between and is the dominant elevation. Entrances and building forms on other elevations are clearly secondary; however, they mark important entry points to the building, terminating vistas and forming street edges. The building form creates intrigue from these secondary frontages and approaches, opening up and revealing itself, expressing its function from the south.