The Works Leeds, 2006

Introduction

The Works was to form a large mixed use scheme for Reland (now Gladedale) on a former chemical works site to the South East of Leeds City Centre. The Site comprised of approximately 3.4 hectares [8.3 acres] is divided by the main arterial route of Black Bull Street which forms an East and West site.

Simon led the design team whilst at careyjones architects that looked at this post industrial area having little intrinsic quality and suffering from a lack of investment. The dividing road (Black Bull Street) behaves like a racetrack out of the City and so the challenge was to design a new neighbourhood with a sense of place with connections to the neighbouring sites and wider city.

Reland's brief required a truly mixed use scheme providing both apartment living, family housing; commercial office space to range from small front door to large floor plate cat A, together with a range of A1/A3 uses alongside a surgery and children's creche etc.

Approach

Studies were carried out to remove the dividing road, which were proved to be unsuccessful this prompted the realisation that the problem was only going to be shifted across to the adjacent site. A different approach was therefore required, a solution to radically change the character of Black Bull Street by making it the heart of the development was pursued.

Fundamental to this was changing both the perception and physicality of 'The Street' and several interlinked strategies were employed to create the desired change.

Two new pedestrian crossings were proposed providing connectivity between the two sites giving both visual and physical stops to the traffic. New side junctions would be added to again calm traffic movement. A pulsed traffic flow was devised to reduce the speed of traffic along the street.

Visually the street would be transformed by the creation of active uses at ground floor, creating 'life' at pavement level. These pavements would be widened to 6m or more and trees introduced to soften the presence of the road further increasing the priority of the pedestrian. Psychologically this visual stimulation and activity would not only slow the traffic down but provide the whole development with a 'green' focus.

A second public space with a quieter nature is provided through the introduction of a new green square, sheltered from the main traffic route, but on a key pedestrian corridor, to the West of the site.

This green square provides both amenity to the residents and the working population, offering a quiet oasis in the City.

Family Housing

Whilst maintaining a high density development Reland wished to create family housing in the area, with front door access and private amenity space together with car parking. The solution led to the development of a courtyard approach with a large landscaped zone over two levels of parking. A housing/apartment section was designed giving front door access from the new streets, with living space orientated directly onto the private landscaped courtyard. Whilst the central space provided a community focus for all residents, each family unit would be provided with a small garden extending the living space of the house.

Environmental

Taking advantage of the schemes mix and differing demand cycles, a full CHP scheme could be developed with a centralised system located under the courtyard supplying the whole development with power, heating and hot water. This combined with highly insulated units and low energy/water demand fittings provided green credentials for the scheme, with the advantage of low running costs for the occupier.