it from an abandoned port to a mixed-use media property. To be specific,
the MediaCity UK now has more than five tenants: BBC, ITV Granada,
Satellite Information Service, University of Salford and others. More
than 7000 people are living, working or studying here through which
bring the place alive (MediaCity UK, 2016). Secondly, the site redid
the topographic modelling after measuring and analysing. Instead of
linear arrangement, the new plan integrated huge curvy façade, taking
advantage of the natural land shape.
Thirdly, the site was reconnected with urban context. The dock looks like
having many branches sticking out and having flowing water between the
decks. The idea is taking the advantage of canal to construct a waterfront
destination (MediaCity UK, 2016). The function of surroundings has
been taken into consideration and finally a decision was made that
the site would become the heart of media. In this case, in the role of
media center, traffic system around the property needs to be much more
convenient than existing situation. Consequently, access and circulation
patterns would be changed, as shown below.
MediaCity UK works well but there are still criticisms about it. The
property was elected as the winner of Carbuncle Cup 2011, commented
as the ugliest new building in Britain (The guardian. 2011). There were
judgments indicating that the buildings are charmless and office blocks
are in a style which was popular
in Eastern Europe 50 years ago
(The guardian. 2011). Generally,
this project was a success case of
urban re-cycling. MediaCity UK has
finished its phase 1 while phase
2 is now under preparing which is
going to have double size of what
it is now.
Conclusion
We learn from the case of MediaCity
UK that a brilliant urban re-cycling
program should not only focus
on the functional development,
external design is also an aspect to
Circulation patterns before and after construction which great significance attached.
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