Lowry

The Lowry has a highly sculptural form and is clad with stainless steel and glass. The entrance is under an aerodynamic portico with perforated steel which dominates this end of the building and is flanked by a tower on the right and the hexagon shop on the left. The Lowry is built on a triangular site and plan – Pier 8. A promenade encircling the building provides views of the Manchester Ship Canal, footbridge and wider Salford Quays developments. Salford City Council wanted to redevelop the derelict Manchester Docks and as part of a masterplan for the area included proposals for two theatres and an art gallery on a prominent part of the site. Architects James Stirling Michael Wilford Associates won the competition to design the arts centre. The construction was funded with the aid Millennium, National Lottery and European funding as well as the private sector. The Lowry name was adopted in honour of the local artist, L. S. Lowry and the collection includes about 400 works in oil, pastel and watercolours from all periods of his career. The building clearly pays reference to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (1997), but its architecture is far too restrained. The spacious, bright and colourful yellow and orange foyer is wrapped around the building which, on one side, has a spectacular view across the canal to the new Imperial War Museum. Containing two theatres, conference facilities, bars and two galleries The Lowry is truly an arts centre. The main house, the Lyric Theatre, is back to back with the Quays Theatre. The Lyric has a circular form with two circular balconies that warp round to meet the stage. Decorated in purple, with metal cladding to the walls, the seating is well spaced and comfortable with excellent sight lines. The orchestra pit, designed for opera, can accommodate over 90 musicians when totally lowered. The large proscenium stage has a grid with 79 single purchase counterweight lines and facilities for traps. The Quays Theatre has a flexible format in the Georgian courtyard style, and is an extremely intimate and successful space. The stage area has a grid with 39 counterweight sets and a variable orchestra pit which can take up to 20 musicians. The seating tiers are a steel frame with steel/concrete floor. The galleries are hung from the roof and the whole ambience of the space is one of warmth. Undoubtedly a major addition to the UK stock of theatres, it is an intriguing and exciting building in which metal mesh and bright colours rule. The Lowry received £3m in Arts Council funding in 2014 towards a £5 million refurbishment fund to improve energy efficiency, update technical equipment in its three theatres and provide a larger bar and restaurant. Building works were completed in twelve weeks in 2015. Two red and blue aluminium single storey shipping container-style boxes now extend the restaurant and bar area across the outside terrace on the side facing the Manchester Ship Canal. External steel panels have been removed to create a new entrance to the left of the existing doors. Inside, a zinc topped curving bar top leads visitors in to a 150 seater hexagon-shaped bar and dining area, complete with a feature tree made to commemorate the history of the area. The tree’s leaves are made from swatches of cotton, symbolising Salford Quays’ history at the centre of the cotton shipping industry. Seven private booths in shades of blue and mustard separate the bar from the 150 covers restaurant with a newly designed open kitchen. A second large room at the rear of the restaurant can be opened up to accommodate 100 more diners.