Salford Quays was the first place we visited during our first (and only) full day in Manchester as we wanted to see the Imperial War Museum, designed by Daniel Libskind. We took the tram from Piccadilly Gardens and arrived at Harbour City.
We got off the tram and there it was, in front of us. I am a great admirer of Libeskind's work so it was a real treat.
Built by the Manchester Ship Canal Company, Salford Docks was the larger of two sections that made up Manchester docks. They opened in 1894 and spanned 120 acres of water and 1,000 acres of land. At their height Manchester docks were the third busiest port in Britain but after containerisation and limit placed on vessel size, the docks declined during the 1970s. They closed in 1982, resulting in the loss of 3000 jobs.
Between 1986 and 1990 the infrastructure of the docks was modified to create an internal waterway network. Roads and bridges were built and a promenade along the waterfront was constructed and landscaped.
With Media City, which incorporates the BBC, ITV plus Coronation Street Studios, behind and to our right, we crossed the Media City footbridge. It was designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects and has a dramatic curved form.
The steel bridge deck is supported along one edge by a series of cables which transfer loads to a distinctive fanned mast.
The view from the bridge
across the water we could see the Lowry bridge.
Behind the War Museum we came across some billboards advertising the Asia Triennial
featuring an amazing graffiti artist from Afghanistan
Shamsia Hassani
a very brave woman
who risks her life as a graffiti artist.
A closer look at the Lowry bridge
a closer look at the Lowry
the sun had come out by then and the reflections were quite spectacular
and now we could take see the Media City bridge in the distance
just as we were ready to cross the Lowry bridge
The Lowry footbridge was designed by Parkman with design support from Carlos Fernandez Casado. It's a lift bridge.
and I still could not stop snapping
Amazing reflections on this building too - I asked someone what it was and she said it was multi-purpose, she had just come out having done some nurses' training.
The entrance to the Lowry
A theatre and gallery complex, designed by James Stirling and Michael Wilford. Most of the building is clad in stainless steel and glass. The large aerofoil canopy at the entrance is clad with perforated steel and is illuminated from the inside at night.
One more view from a different angle.
By the time we left the Lowry it was cloudy again, but we had no rain, something we were grateful for.
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