New York Highline inspires Manchester project
In the UK, Twelve Architects and Masterplanners have released a concept design for Castlefield Viaduct, turning a disused 130-year-old railway viaduct into a 330-metre linear park inspired by Manhattan’s High Line.
A partnership between the Manchester City Council, the National Trust and the people of Manchester, the cast iron and steel bridge once used to transport coal into and out of the city will be, “transformed into a beautiful and welcoming green space that will be accessible for all.”
Photomontage showing the viaduct before and after the pilot. Image credit - ©Twelve Architects & Masterplanners.
Their short-term pilot scheme features a micro-park to test the design and operation, with a welcome kiosk, vegetation planters, temporary event building, guided heritage tours and partner plots showcasing local initiatives.
The pilot project seeks input from local audiences and partners, and the long-term vision is to turn Castlefield Viaduct into a free-to-access park and meeting space for residents and visitors.
The viaduct was built in 1892 and constructed by Heenan and Froude, the engineers who worked on the iconic Blackpool Tower. Image credit - ©National Trust, Howard Bristol.
Twelve Architects’ concept, “seeks to marry the city’s proud industrial heritage with a modern urban park concept, more reflective of the Manchester of today.”
The viaduct is divided into three zones designed to take visitors on a journey that highlights its structure.
The initial plan is to open the viaduct next summer as a temporary park to test ideas and use the space to gather feedback for the viaduct’s longer-term future. Image credit - ©National Trust, Howard Bristol.
A welcome space includes seating and planters, and a green, living-wall screen gate that obstructs views of the next section. It will be opened at timed intervals for 20 guests to be led through the second zone by a guide.
This second zone showcases the existing structure of the abandoned viaduct, with minimal landscaping and an accessible central footpath.
An aerial view showing what the temporary park next summer could look like from above. Image credit - ©Twelve Architects & Masterplanners.
The third zone presents the viaduct as it could be- a green garden oasis- crammed with plants and shrubs in red COR-TEN steel planters reminiscent of the industrial red brick buildings common in the area.
A temporary structure clad in greenery doubles as an event space, and a large window allows visitors to look at the remaining, untouched half of the viaduct.
An artist impression of how part of the viaduct could look next summer. Image credit - ©Twelve Architects & Masterplanners.
Zone three includes a growing area and eight partner plots for city partners to exhibit their own work.
There are references to the viaduct’s heritage throughout, such as lower level balustrades with bolts in the distinctive shape of the old sleeper carriages that would have used the bridge.
Another artist impression of how part of the viaduct could look next summer. Image credit - ©Twelve Architects & Masterplanners
“In a post pandemic world,” say Twelve Architects, “it is more important than ever for people to have the opportunity to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of green, nature-rich parks and gardens.”
The first phase is expected to be delivered in summer 2022, and gaining feedback from the community will be key in informing the vision for the second phase.
