Maggie’s Manchester by Foster + Partners

Maggie’s Manchester was presented at the AT Awards live finals on 20 September 2023 to a jury comprising Rab Bennetts, Juliette Morgan, Neil Thomas, Peter Bishop, Nana Biamah-Ofosu, and Chair Isabel Allen. Read about how the project has stood the test of time.

Credit: Nigel Young

Completed
2016

Foster + Partners’ Maggie’s Manchester cancer centre is intended to create a warm domestic atmosphere in a relaxed garden setting. The roof of the single-storey building rises in the centre to create a mezzanine level, which is naturally-lit by triangular rooflights and supported by lightweight timber lattice beams. The latter act as natural partitions between different internal areas, visually dissolving the architecture into the surrounding gardens. Institutional references, such as corridors and hospital signs, are eschewed in favour of home-like spaces. This extends to the materials palette, which comprises natural materials and tactile fabrics.

Credit: Nigel Young

The rectilinear plan is punctuated by landscaped courtyards and the entire western elevation extends into a wide veranda, which is sheltered from the rain by the overhanging roof. Each treatment and counselling room on the eastern façade has its own private garden. A greenhouse on the south side of the plan provides a welcome space for people to gather, work with their hands, and enjoy the therapeutic qualities of nature and the outdoors.

The project meets Manchester City Council’s target for energy consumption and carbon emissions by incorporating high-performance façades and maximising both daylight and natural ventilation. It was also highly commended in the 2020 CIBSE Building Performance Awards.

The building has matured over the years, providing a secure, lived-in feel, and a sense of ownership for staff and visitors alike. “When you walk in you feel like you have been transported to a tranquil, peaceful and beautiful space in the world away from the busy streets of Manchester,” commented centre visitor Pauline. “It really is exactly what people need, it offers so much in terms of emotional and practical support.”