Pattern: On Location - Kampus

Pattern member Jonathan Miley, Director at Exterior Architecture, took us on a tour of Kampus, a major urban regeneration scheme he worked on after setting up the ExA Manchester office.

What is Kampus?

Kampus is a new urban quarter in Manchester city centre, comprising a complex of apartments plus garden space and ground floor commercial units. The development is close to Piccadilly Station, off Aytoun Street and next to Canal Street.

“The idea is to create an urban neighbourhood with a strong sense of identity, combining residential and green space with local amenities. The design also reflects the site’s heritage as part of Manchester Metropolitan University,”

-- Jonathan Miley

The vision for Kampus is a combined social space with communal areas, roof gardens and car parking for residents. Kampus is part of Manchester City Council’s Aytoun Street Strategic Framework. ExA is responsible for all public realm design within this framework.

The Hidden Neighbourhood

Working with HBD and Capital & Centric, ExA drew on the concept of the kind of hidden neighbourhoods you’d typically find in Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

“It’s that unexpected element that you encounter when exploring cities abroad. You turn a corner or go down a narrow street and suddenly find yourself in an identifiable, intimate neighbourhood.”

Kampus taps into this sense of urban exploration. It already feels like a hidden gem with a lively, shared culture centring on Nell’s New York Pizza & Bar, which occupies the ground floor and outdoor space within the development.

Inclusive and Eclectic

Kampus is next to Canal Street. As an area that already had cultural affinities with Amsterdam, this provided inspiration and guidance for the development’s design.

“There’s an inbuilt quirkiness to this part of the city centre. Our task was to reflect it but also to create something with a distinctive character of its own.”

The concept is not of an exclusive neighbourhood but an inclusive one. This inclusivity extends to the varied ingredients that have gone into the Kampus mix. The developer was keen to retain some of the site’s original brutalist aspects, while also purpose-built and industrial heritage design elements alongside green open spaces. This eclecticism makes Kampus feel natural and unforced. The open spaces at the heart of the development unite its disparate elements, suggesting something organic, rather than a concept that’s been imposed on the area. ExA’s Kampus design lays the foundation for an authentic community that incorporates fully the character and diversity of Manchester.

This was the first scheme ExA worked on since Jonathan set up the practice’s Manchester office. The perfect finish to this insightful visit was a visit to Nell’s where Pattern members could continue the conversation over pizza and beer.

Here’s what they had to say:

“It really felt like we were exploring a homegrown neighbourhood rather than a new scheme. ExA’s eclectic approach has really paid off.”

-- Adam Smith, Director at Vectos (part of SLR Group).

“Jonathan’s insights boosted what was already a memorable and educational experience.”

-- Dr Sarah Fitton, Director at Aurua Engagements.

“Excellent location, beautiful buildings, accessible outdoor space and plenty of greenery. This is what urban regeneration should look like.”

-- Jemma Hynes, CEO at Foodsync.