Revealed: St. John’s development to offer residents “a new Manchester experience”

Allied London has revealed details of the first two residential communities within its mixed-use St. John’s development in Manchester.

The North West property developer said the projects, South Village and St. John’s Place Tower, will take a design-led approach to create a village-inspired community within Manchester’s bustling city centre.

Known as Village and Sky, the two schemes will offer homes that “prioritise the material design as much as the immaterial ‘experience’ of a place”, according to Allied London.

The firm’s chief exec, Michael Ingall, is confident St. John’s will revitalise the city’s residential offer by providing “a new Manchester experience”.

He commented: “We want to create a lifestyle where living means more than just bricks and mortar, and we want to do it well.

“Geraghty Taylor Architects were briefed to create contemporary warehouse living for South Village based on classic industrial heritage.”

Michael added: “St. John’s Place Tower has a different feel; that of classic, modern architecture and design, reminiscent of the first towers in Chicago and New York.”

London-headquartered Geraghty Taylor Architects was tasked with creating the interior design brand for the Village and Sky, while architects SimpsonHaugh and Partners designed the masterplan for the wider St. John’s neighbourhood.

The homes within South Village and St. John’s Place Tower are due to launch to the public this September.

Geraghty Taylor Architects’ co-founder and director, Brendan Geraghty, said: “We work from the premise of Brand before Building.

“That means we want to fully understand our client’s brand and create or develop the story behind any project we approach.”

He added: “Architecture is not just about bricks and mortar; it is about facilitating communities, lives and neighbourhoods and creating the brand and culture to support that. Working with Allied London was a pleasure, as they very much share our ethos.”

Commenting on the scheme, the head of design for St. John’s, David Drews, said the aim was to give the Village and Sky “individual personalities”.

He explained: “South Village is about craft and honesty. Expect polished concrete floors, oversized terraces and exposed brick.

“The Tower is inspired by mid-century classic design and features bespoke kitchens, marble finish walls and unparalleled views of Manchester. Once the former home of Granada TV, the creation of St. John’s seeks to re-establish and build on this heritage and bring it to life for a new generation of city-dwellers in Manchester.”