The Lowry
| The Lowry | |
|---|---|
 |
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| General information | |
| Type | Museum & Arts Centre |
| Architectural style | Expressionist |
| Location | Salford, Greater Manchester, England |
| Coordinates | 53°28′14.60″N 2°17′47.03″W / 53.470722°N 2.2963972°WCoordinates: 53°28′14.60″N 2°17′47.03″W / 53.470722°N 2.2963972°W |
| Completed | 1999 (opened 2000) |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Steel frame |
| Design and construction | |
| Structural engineer | Buro Happold |
| Website | |
| The Lowry | |
The Lowry is a theatre and gallery complex situated on Pier 8 at Salford Quays, in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It is named after the early-20th century painter, L. S. Lowry, known for his paintings of industrial scenes in North West England. The complex was officially opened on 12 October 2000 by Queen Elizabeth II.[1]
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[edit] Background
In order to redevelop the derelict Manchester Docks, Salford City Council developed a regeneration plan in 1988 for the brownfield site which highlighted the leisure, cultural and tourism potential of the area and included a flagship development which would involve the creation of a performing arts centre. The initial proposals were for two theatres and an art gallery on a prominent site on Pier 8.[2]
Between 1990 and 1991 a competition was launched and architects James Stirling Michael Wilford Associates was selected. After Sir James Stirling's death in June 1992 Michael Wilford continued the project. The city council bid for Millennium and other British and European funds and private sector finance to progress the project. Funding was secured in 1996 and The Lowry Trust became responsible for the project which comprised The Lowry Centre, the plaza, a footbridge, a retail outlet shopping mall and Digital World Centre.[2] The National Lottery provided over £21 million of funding towards its construction.[3] The project was completed in 1999 at a cost of £106 million.[4] The Lowry name was adopted in honour of the local artist, L S Lowry.
The complex is located close to the Imperial War Museum North and the Old Trafford football stadium. It is served by the MediaCityUK stop on the Metrolink tram network. In 2010 and 2011 it was Greater Manchester's most visited tourist attraction. [5]
[edit] Design and construction
Ground breaking took place on 19 June 1997 for the complex designed by Michael Wilford[6] and constructed by Buro Happold. It is built on a triangular site at the end of Pier 8 and is triangular in plan. A promenade encircles the building providing views of the Manchester Ship Canal and wider Salford Quays developments.[2]
The foyer faces the public plaza where there is a large aerofoil canopy at the entrance clad with perforated steel and illuminated from inside at night. Much of the building is clad in stainless steel and glass.[2]
The Lowry was described as "not quite 'Salford's Guggenheim'... It is ultimately too small and too well behaved... although there are obvious shared aims"[7], a reference to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, which was built for similar reasons.
The Lowry footbridge which spans the ship canal was designed by Carlos Fernandez Casado and built by Parkmans of Salford. it is a lift bridge with a lattice work superstructure.[2]
[edit] Theatres and galleries
At the core of the complex, are two theatres, a drama studio, restaurants, cafe and shop. The Lyric Theatre has 1,730 seats while the Quays has 466.[2] The theatres host touring plays, comedy and musical events and Opera North.[8] The Lyric Theatre has the largest stage in the United Kingdom outside London's West End.[4] It played host to the 2011 Royal Variety Performance.[9]
The complex contains 2000m² of gallery space which display the L.S. Lowry and other collections. The Artworks Creativity Gallery, designed and implemented by architects, Reich-Petch, uses multimedia to encourage visitor participation and interaction with exhibits to transform gallery space.[10]
In 2005 The Lowry brought its ticketing operation in-house to generate additional revenue to support its work. The Lowry created Quaytickets, which also promotes and sells tickets for smaller arts organisations and Manchester International Festival.
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ Her Majesty the Queen officially opens The Lowry in Salford, Millennium Commission, http://www.millennium.gov.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=1536&d=11&h=24&f=46&dateformat=%25o-%25B-%25Y, retrieved 21 October 2011
- ^ a b c d e f (pdf) Milestones, Salford Council, pp. 6–9, http://www.salford.gov.uk/d/milestones_v2.pdf, retrieved 21 October 2011
- ^ The Lowry, Millennium Commission, http://www.millennium.gov.uk/cgi-site/awards.cgi?action=detail&id=179, retrieved 21 October 2011
- ^ a b The Building, The Lowry, http://www.thelowry.com/about-the-lowry/the-lowry-building/, retrieved 21 October 2011
- ^ Brooks-Pollock, Tom (30 November 2011). "Lowry gallery and theatre is most popular tourist attraction in Greater Manchester". Manchester Evening News. menmedia.co.uk. http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1466465_lowry-gallery-and-theatre-is-most-popular-tourist-attraction-in-greater-manchester. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- ^ Lowry Centre Salford Quays, e-architect, http://www.e-architect.co.uk/manchester/lowry_centre_salford.htm, retrieved 21 October 2011
- ^ Aldersly-Williams, Hugh (24 April 2000). "'Salford's Guggenheim'". New Statesman. http://www.newstatesman.com/200004240043. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
- ^ Venues, Opera North, http://www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-on/venues/, retrieved 21 October 2011
- ^ Salford's Lowry hosts Royal Variety Performance, The BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-16037436, retrieved 15 December 2011
- ^ Reich + Petch Design International, architects ArtWorks at the Lowry, Reich-Petch, http://www.reich-petch.com/ Reich + Petch Design International, architects, retrieved 21 October 2011
[edit] Gallery
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The Lowry seen from the War Museum
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Side view of the entrance
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The interior of the foyer
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: The Lowry |
- Buildings and structures in Salford
- Art museums and galleries in Greater Manchester
- Arts centres in England
- Theatres in Greater Manchester
- Michael Wilford buildings
- Buildings and structures celebrating the third millennium
- Buildings and structures completed in 1999
- High-tech architecture
- Event venues established in 2000
