MediaCityUK opens

Gillespies designed all of the exterior and public realm spaces, including a large piazza, waterside and green parks for MediaCityUK - a globally significant digital media hub that regenerates a former brownfield dock site.

Confident and contemporary, the designs integrate the extensive development into a whole.  Gillsepies' designs were crafted specifically for the creative needs of this new media community.

The visual concepts originate from the waterside location, inspired by waves and tides. The industrial past is echoed in the materials used, and green landscapes bring heart and human scale.

The extensive public spaces designed by Gillespies include a multifunctional Piazza with a radial geometry and elegant natural stone paving.  Sitting in sharp contrast is Media Park where naturalistic planting with timber decking create intimate spaces for strolling, relaxing and working outdoors.

The landscape is designed for the pedestrian and has created one of the UK's largest shared surface environments where complete DDA compliance is achieved.

The planting of over 200 trees has supported MediaCityUK's achievement as the first project in the world to become a BREEAM accredited Sustainable Community.

Hugh Pearman, RIBA Journal comments:

"Gillespies landscaping is intelligent, for instance in the way it cuts through the high wharf edges to create broad steps down to the water, and offsets hard and soft landscape areas"