Building on a Rich History
At the crossroads of history and innovation, Campfield Market in Castlefield is about to take on an exciting new chapter. Once a hub of trade and industry, this iconic space has witnessed centuries of change.
From its origins as a marketplace to its role in the Science and Industry Museum, Campfield has always been a place of connection, creativity, and commerce. Now, it’s ready to become something new again, a vibrant incubator for Manchester’s tech and creative community.
(video above courtesy of OBI Property)
A Bold Vision for the Future
Working alongside Manchester City Council and Allied London, we had the privilege of reimagining Campfield’s Grade II listed buildings and the 1960s Castlefield House.
Our mission was to create a design concept for a space that brings people together, sparks collaboration, and inspires creativity for the next generation of businesses. Code named Air + Space + Cloud, we were guided by our belief that great design blends purpose, personality and a healthy dose of pragmatism.
Designing Spaces to Connect and Inspire
Inspired by the rehabilitation and creative reuse of buildings in the docklands and industrial hinterlands of New York and the Netherlands we put pen to paper to flesh out a design concept for the campus.
The ground floor brings energy and flexibility to the forefront, with modular studio spaces designed to adapt to the changing needs of tech startups. 'Garden-office' areas spill into the central atrium, a planted “green street”—a meeting space where spontaneous conversations spark innovation.
The mezzanine level opens up into a flexible co-working zone, filled with unique meeting pavilions that create intimate, creative spaces. It's where teams can collaborate, innovate, and grow together.
At the center of it all is a social hub—a dynamic event space, café, bar, and lounge—designed to bring people together, nurture connections, and foster a sense of community.
A Collaborative Process
We designed and produced a newspaper and a brochure to communicate the concept narrative to the key project stakeholders, taking the development to planning pre-app approval. We collaborated with heritage specialists, Project 3 Architects who took our foundation ideas into further detailed design phases.
The building is set to launched in May 2025 under the legacy Campfield name.
