Product Description

A comprehensive and critical examination of Manchester's architecture, from its origins in the Roman settlement at Castlefield to the present-day rebuilding of the city centre. More than an analysis of individual buildings, the book is about the growth of Manchester from a mere village to what many see as England's second city. Architecture is not an isolated activity and there are many external factors which influence the built environment. The canals, the railways, Trafford Park and the Trafford Centre have all had an effect on Manchester. Central government and local politics, planners and developers, loss of industry and population, bids for Olympic Games, and bombs have all left their mark on the city. John J. Parkinson-Bailey discusses the city's buildings in the context of these wider influences to reveal the complex relationship of architecture to the changing commercial, cultural and social life of a metropolis.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #316701 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Customer Reviews

A scholarly but compelling work
Here is a detailed review of just about all the buildings of any importance in Manchester, and how they got to be there. Coverage goes up to publication in 2000, and also discusses several buildings under construction or planned at that time, including the Imperial War Museum, Urbis, the extended City Art Gallery, and the Eastlands Stadium. Illustrated with over 190 black and white photos and drawings, plus 60 excellent colour plates, the book is organised in coherent sections, such as "Housing in the Nineteenth Century", and "Bidding for the Games and a Bomb". The relationships between historical periods, Mancunian commerce and industry, architects, developers, and city planners are explained throughout, and there is a wealth of intriguing anecdotes, facts and figures. The only disappointment is the lack of maps, both to illustrate the development of Manchester and also as a guide to the reader, who is surely going to want to get out into the city with this book in hand (probably in both hands). The gazetteer listing the important buildings street by street is a partial recompense.

take a look at the architecture in manchester
This book is great coffee table reading, with lots of lovely glossy colour photos of things to look out for in the city of Manchester. I have only lived in the city three years, yet after reading this book it made me want to go to town (the book is based on the city centre), and look up at all the hidden gems and details of buildings that you would normally just walk on by. The first few chapters really set the scene of Manchester's industrial history, pointing out what's left to see of the city from bygone days. It goes a bit dry in the middle where you may lose interest in the architecture and get caught up in the politics. I was quite looking forward to the last few chapters, which really set Manchester in its place today, talking about the up and coming sites and quality of life now available. Also, it leaves you feeling that there's some great architecture on its way to the city (which there is), so it's a city worthy of a visit.