Standing the Test of Time

Great projects are not just about design but the real impact they have on people’s lives.

Since their completion, Gloucester Services and Timber Wharf have received numerous design awards. However, our two AT Test of Time awards are more important as they recognise how each project has enriched its place and transformed people’s lives over decades.

Timber Wharf was our first and most influential housing project. It explored many ideas from first principles, including structure alongside how to create the best living and communal spaces to become a design classic.

Over the last 20 years, Timber Wharf has created a community of people living and working together. Central to this is the landscape that has matured into a much-loved shared garden for relaxation and growing. The building has proved to be a catalyst for the regeneration of the local area, setting new standards for future new-build schemes in Manchester with its imaginative use of glass, timber, concrete and stone— a design that has remained largely unchanged since it opened.

Tom Bloxham MBE, Chair of Urban Splash, said, “This award is great news and a reflection of our commitment to long-term regeneration that stands the test of time.

“Timber Wharf is a particularly meaningful project for us, not just because it’s the building that houses our main offices in Manchester, but also because it was our first ever new-build development. The design was picked after an anonymous competition chaired by Lord Richard Rogers, allowing us to explore a new genre of building working alongside the winner Howells as we created something bold and new.

“When it was completed 20 years ago, Timber Wharf made a real impact on Castlefield, introducing a fresh aesthetic at the time. It’s a unique space that has since been loved by everyone who calls it home – whether that’s us, the other commercial occupiers, or the residents in the apartments above. The building has played a key role in the development of an area that is now a well-regarded part of town, where people live, work, and play. It’s an honour to receive this award in recognition of that.”

When it opened its doors for the first time in 2014, Gloucester Services set a new standard for the motorway service station. This year, celebrating its tenth year of operation, the project continues to support its neighbouring communities and local suppliers and provide employment to local people.

Not only has it won seventeen Design Awards, it is consistently named the No.1 service station in the UK, has become a de facto embassy for Gloucestershire, and even has its own TV show. Gloucester Services shows how a partnership between private and charitable organisations can deliver extraordinary results—overachieving on all its social, environmental and economic objectives, it has returned over £2 million to local communities and supported over 130 local food and drink producers.

Sarah Dunning, Chair of Westmorland Family, said, “It’s hard to comprehend that 10 years have passed since we opened Gloucester Services. Our original vision was simple, we wanted to create a building sensitive to its surrounding landscape. We wanted to create a platform for local farmers and producers to sell their produce, we wanted to be a good employer in the region, and we wanted to connect with our local communities, making a difference to those who need it.

“The buildings at Gloucester Services look better today than when we opened a decade ago. The landscaping and grass roof designs have matured into beautiful living landscapes that reflect the seasons. The use of natural materials throughout retain their timeless contemporary design and the building is absolutely integral in how we do business, from the open cathedral-like spaces to its dialogue with the local environment. It truly has stood the test of time.”

Winning awards for new buildings is a great achievement, but getting awards for projects that have made a real difference to places and communities is even more rewarding!

Don’t take our word for it—please look at these short films that show how these projects have matured and continue to enrich the lives of people who use them.