The brief

To elevate the refurbishment of this prominent building, a former cotton warehouse, on the corner of Chorlton Street and Richmond Street in central Manchester, using distinctive façade solutions to create a signature look for this stylish aparthotel, Leven.

The architect designing the boutique venue, named after the Dutch word for ‘live’, was keen to use an aluminium rainscreen system to create a facade that both contrasted with, and accentuated the surrounding area, for the newly built upper floors.

Aliva recommended a sleek, urban squirrel grey aluminium rainscreen system, to in keep with the city scape, complemented by an EWI and ceramic slip in Victorian green. Aliva’s clay Listello slips can be glazed to any RAL, NCS or Pantone and on this project were matched to the Leven brand’s corporate green.

Aliva was also asked to create a bespoke system for the rear elevations of the building, negotiating tricky boundary lines.

What we did

Aliva was tasked with the design and manufacture of the panels for the new aparthotel. The use of aluminium, EWI and ceramic slips together ensured that the building was given a striking aesthetic for the upper floors.

What makes it special

All the aluminium cladding on the three elevations – Richmond, Chorlton and Canal Street – had to be installed at an 84-degree slope, an unusual obstacle and unique requirement in architecture. The gradient gives the cladding a distinctive trapezoidal contour.

The contrast and use of colours in an area of Manchester renowned for its character, has given the building a unique appearance while also retaining its place as part of the neighbourhood.