Tower Works connects the Round Foundry area to the Leeds-Liverpool canal, and on to the station via Granary Wharf. I went to the official opening/tour of Phase 1, by Bauman Lyons Architects, where a number of the original buildings (including the towers) have been restored and a new public square opened by the canal. The offices are packed full of character, views of the canal and the shallow floor-plate means they are naturally lit and ventilated from both sides. The windows know to open themselves when the building feels too hot... spooky.
The detailing is sublime throughout the site. The material palette of brick, timber, copper and glass helps link the old and new buildings, while providing a photogenic architectural detail around every corner. The site still has a very 'Phase 1' feeling about it - there are lots of temporary street lights, railings and asphalt that should be gone in a few years when the final phases of the development are completed. More info at http://www.baumanlyons.co.uk/projects/new-edges/tower-works and http://www.tower-works.com/
