Stephenson's Manchester Buildings
Since the IRA bombing of 1996, Stephenson Bell Architects have played a huge role in the reconstruction of Manchester, with many of the city's most notable new buildings having been designed by the firm. While a number of these projects, such as the Chorlton Park, have been met with almost unanimous acclaim by Mancunians, some of the company's other buildings have been somewhat more controversial.
One of Stephenson's first completed projects was Dukes 92 in Manchester city centre situated at the crossing of the Bridgewater and Rochdale Canals at lock 92.
The building had originally been a set of long narrow Georgian stables had later been surrounding be a variety of industrial shed's which were in a dilapidated state.
Stephenson's firm first stripped back the rusting sheds to reveal the elegant stables and provide the first deliberate public open space a Manchester's historic Castlefield Canal Basin. They then planned for the restoration of the shell with a fitted bar of black steel and marble, pitch pine floor and antique furniture which the architects and client bought themselves.
Read more about this topic: Roger Stephenson
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