In 2016, Ares Landscape Architects were appointed to develop proposals which aimed to transform an old industrial site in Leeds City Centre into a dynamic mixed-use development. The site, Monk bridge, was later renamed as The Junction and features the Grade II listed Monk Bridge Viaduct, a massive stone structure that had been abandoned since the 1960s. Spanning the River Aire and the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, the viaduct was a prominent yet inaccessible landmark. ‘The Junction’ development has bought the viaduct back into public use by re-imagining a piece of 19thcenturytransport infrastructure as a 21st-century high level public park, and in doing so unlocking the potential of unused water side land to become a new city centre neighbourhood.
The external landscape and private courtyards of the buildings are critical to creating sociability , together with forging strong connections between the building and its surroundings, benefitting the people of Leeds, future residents and visitors to the city. The arches beneath the viaduct will be developed into bars and restaurants, whilst the top of the viaduct will become an elevated linear public park with a variety of innovative spaces linked together by unique paths and routes through the landscape.
As a technically challenging site, we have worked collaboratively with other consultants to achieve solutions to testing topography, green roof and water proofing details and the constraints of a constrained site. Although our scope was primarily related to the landscape design, the unique challenges on the site allowed us to help with engineering solutions and aid the whole design team in coordinating a robust pack of information for accurate costing.
The phasing of the site was split into two. Three buildings and the majority of the landscape areas were submitted to the Local Authority first (approved in May 2017) , with outline approval for another two larger buildings adjacent to the canal. This allowed further flexibility in the design and agreement of funds to be acquired prior to the recent submission of a reserved matters application. This involved a different architect, but we were brought on for further services relating to the canal-side public realm which had its own challenges of wind mitigation and topographical issues, solved through consistent team communication and innovative design. At the heart of the new park a major events space gives Leeds a unique venue with an elevated vantage point over the rest of the city.
