Piccadilly Gardens Pavilion
Manchester
Location
Manchester
Status
Completed 2024
Sector
Culture & Community
Client
LGIM (Legal & General Investment Management)
At SpaceInvader we specialise in delivering innovative design solutions for commercial spaces that inspire and engage. Born in Manchester we are proud to have led the redesign of the Piccadilly Gardens Pavilion, reimagining this iconic structure at the heart of our city.
The project, commissioned by Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), focused on transforming a divisive structure into a safer, more welcoming, and vibrant part of Manchester’s urban environment. Originally designed by acclaimed architect Tadao Ando in 2002 for the Commonwealth Games, the Pavilion had long sparked strong opinions. Many felt its monolithic design alienated locals and fostered anti-social behaviour due to limited visibility and access.
Through thoughtful design and collaboration, we redefined the Pavilion as a space that reflects Manchester’s heritage and its community’s aspirations.
The Pavilion, situated in Manchester’s bustling Piccadilly Gardens, faced several key challenges. Its uniform and unwelcoming design blocked sightlines and restricted natural light, contributing to a sense of isolation, anti-social behaviour arose from hindered visibility and poorly monitored areas. Plus a disconnect from the community limited its role in engaging Manchester’s people and heritage, despite its central location.
Our goal was to evolve the Pavilion’s design rather than replace it, preserving its function as an acoustic and visual barrier while better integrating it into Manchester’s public realm.
““We strongly believed that with some imaginative and well-adjudged evolutions, the Pavilion could become a more loved structure in the city. We absolutely supported its retention. The Pavilion is over 20 years old and firmly part of the city’s visual heritage, as well as being located on a site with a rich history. The art installation, a collaboration between three leading Manchester creatives, has been designed to celebrate the city’s industrial heritage and encourage more love and respect for the structure.”
”
The redesigned Pavilion is now a beacon of connection and creativity in Manchester’s city centre. By enhancing light, visibility, and accessibility, we’ve revitalised the structure and reconnected it with the surrounding community.
“These physical improvements to the appearance and feel of Piccadilly Gardens, together with intensive police focus on the area, have been well-received and are making a real and lasting improvement to the area.”
Photography: Jody Hartley
As leading commercial interior designers in Manchester, we approached the Pavilion redesign with a focus on integration, accessibility, and community pride. By balancing practical improvements with creative design, we honoured the structure’s heritage while making it both more inviting and functional.
Key structural changes included opening up the space by removing the central roof section that connected the Pavilion’s two commercial units. This improved natural light and visibility, creating a more open and inviting pedestrian thoroughfare, while also addressing safety concerns. Additionally, the commercial units were modernised with sleek linear lighting, and the glazing and roof elements were re-sprayed black to achieve a contemporary aesthetic. These changes seamlessly harmonised the Pavilion with the wider Piccadilly Gardens redesign.
The centrepiece of the redesign is ‘Weave’, a bespoke art installation created in collaboration with Manchester-based artist Lazerian and lighting designers Artin. This striking feature transforms the Pavilion’s outer wall into a dynamic and engaging element of the cityscape.
Using the structure’s original tie holes, the installation incorporates RGB lighting to create programmable patterns that evolve throughout the day and adapt to events such as Manchester Pride, Christmas, and other celebrations. Inspired by Manchester’s rich industrial heritage, the design mimics woven threads with lines of light and metallic accents, paying homage to the city’s textile history while adding depth and character.
To ensure durability and safety, vandal-proof liquid metal inlays were added at ground level, providing texture and visual interest while maintaining resilience against wear and damage.
