Piccadilly Gardens’ concrete pavilion set for makeover

The concrete pavilion featured in Piccadilly Gardens will stay, but it is getting a glow-up.

The huge grey slab, dubbed as the ‘Berlin Wall’ by some, has been a feature in the city since it was built in 2002.

Created for the Commonwealth Games, it was designed by respected Japanese architect Tadao Ando and is located opposite the bus depot and tram stop – you can’t miss it.

Its location means it is owned privately by Legal and General’s Investment Management firm (LGIM) and therefore the council does not possess the power to make changes to it and can’t demolish it.

The firm doesn’t want to knock the wall down as they say it has become ‘part of the city’s history’.

“Despite what people think about the concrete ‘wall’, it is already part of the history and heritage of Manchester,” it said.

“Why not make it into something we are proud of? Like we are proud of our music, our culture, our history,” LGIM added.

The firm also said the wall served another purpose. It said: “The primary function of the existing Pavilion was to form a barrier both visually and acoustically from the bus and tram interchanges.”

However the area – which has looked a little ‘sad’ since its lush green garden days and has become known as a hotspot for drug use and crime – is set to be given a new lease of life.

As part of a huge £25 million overhaul, Piccadilly Gardens will get a more modern and softer look, as the council work towards a re-design of the area.

The wall will remain but LGIM have agreed to remove the roof, which will allow natural light to pour in over the grounds around it.

There will also be a new light installation added to the wall to add extra light, a softer glow and brighten the place up especially on grey and murky days. Materials including metal and glass will also give it a more sophisticated appearance.

Greater Manchester Police also support the planned move who said observations made by officers ‘state that the area is used as a gathering point, sheltered from the elements and natural surveillance’. 

The new light and airy look will help with the safety and security of people visiting the city centre.

As reported in the Manchester Evening News, GMP said: “LGIM’s proposal to remove the roof of the Pavilion, to allow natural light and create a more open thoroughfare, will reduce the opportunity and means to commit crime and anti-social behaviour.

“GMP fully support LGIM’s proposal to remove the roof and invest further in making Piccadilly Gardens high quality place for all… [as] the pavilion in Piccadilly Gardens has been identified as a specific hotspot with the wider Piccadilly Gardens area.”

The force continued: “It is an ideal place for substance misuse and anti-social behaviour which is demonstrated through incident data at a micro-beat level and observations from officers who state that the area is used as a gathering point, sheltered from the elements and natural surveillance.”

Images show illuminated weaves of lights along the wall with additional lights hanging beneath. These weaved lights will be created making use of the existing tie holes in the concrete wall. These will be switched on during the daytime, according to the planning application.