Leicester Market Food Hall, East Midlands Building Development, English Architecture, Architect
Leicester Market Food Hall Building
English Building Development: East Midlands Architecture design by Greig & Stephenson
22 May 2013
Leicester Market Masterplan
Design: Greig & Stephenson
Location: Leicester, East Midlands, central England
image from architect office
Greig & Stephenson gain planning consent for new food hall at Leicester Market
Greig & Stephenson have received detailed planning consent for a new food hall at Leicester Market as the first phase of an overall master plan to regenerate the Market Place area of Leicester city centre, said to be the largest market in Europe.
image from architect office
Designs for the scheme show a light and airy modern pavilion – constructed from steel, glass and timber with a zinc roof – that would provide a new home for the meat, fish and deli traders currently based in Leicester’s dated indoor market hall.
15 Apr 2013
Leicester Market Masterplan News
Design: Greig & Stephenson
Location: Leicester, England
Greig & Stephenson submit planning application for new food hall at Leicester Market
Architects Greig & Stephenson have lodged a detailed planning application for a brand new food hall at Leicester Market.
images from architect
Nigel Stephenson, partner at Greig & Stephenson, says: “The form of the new food hall has taken influence from the scale and proportions of the Corn Exchange and the surrounding context. The adoption of the curved roof allows a clean geometry to connect a number of scales; the outdoor market with the proportions of the Corn Exchange, drawing the eye to the listed building, and the food hall which rises up in scale to address the new public square to the west.
To achieve a flexible trading environment the curved beams allow clear spans with minimal interruptions from the columns on the trading floor. The use of glulaminated timber was preferred over steel for its modern, sustainable credentials; paired with the natural aesthetic which is more complementary of the functions within the market building.
The scale and curvature of the roof makes the building more subservient to the grade II* listed building, softening its presence, yet distinguishing itself as a separate architectural entity.
Large amounts of glazing have been proposed to maximise the visibility of the Corn Exchange and the traders within the market, whilst strengthening visual connections between the new public realm, heritage assets and the outdoor market. The new building would be lightly connected to the city’s historic Corn Exchange by a glazed ‘divide’ which articulates the two forms.
Proposals for the new food hall and overall master plan have been developed by Greig & Stephenson over the last 12 months on behalf of Leicester City Council and have been the subject of extensive consultation with market traders and other key stakeholders with the strong backing of City Mayor Peter Soulsby.
Stephenson adds: “The concept addresses the fact that the Corn Exchange has permanence within the ever changing market place, whilst the new food hall is adopting a lightness of touch, where it feels more like a visitor, inviting light and activity to define its image and atmosphere.”
The food hall represents the first phase of a £7m major scheme that will not only transform Leicester’s 700-year old market for the people who work and shop there, but will also ensure that the market becomes a must-see attraction for visitors to our city. Conservation area consent for the demolition of the old indoor market will be considered at the same time.
Phase one will also include the provision of contemporary lock-up units in the south-east corner of the outdoor market – providing alternative accommodation for traders relocating from the indoor market – and some much-needed new public toilets.
The second phase of works will include the demolition of the 1970s indoor market hall – which is no longer fit for purpose – and the creation in its place of an attractive new public square that will help make the Corn Exchange the focus of the market once again.
By investing in the market, the city council hopes to encourage the regeneration of the wider area, attracting investors and developers to transform the shops and buildings in the adjoining streets.
Planning applications for further works in phase one and phase two of the scheme will be submitted later this year, with a view to completing the overall scheme by the end of 2014.
Leicester Market Food Hall images / information from Greig & Stephenson
Location: Leicester Market, Leicester, England, UK
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Comments / photos for the Leicester Market Food Hall – England Retail Architecture page welcome