CJCT’s wider Monk Bridge scheme in Leeds is located on a brown field site was dormant for decades just to the west of Leeds City centre. At the heart of the site lies the Leeds & Thirsk Railway’s ‘stranded’ but magnificent Grade II listed 1846 Gritstone viaduct crossing both the River Aire and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
The overall masterplan is composed from nine principal buildings, arranged along the viaduct as the centre piece forming the commercial and communal spine.
The Junction is a series of five buildings provide 665 homes on the site, connected through the viaduct which forms a High-Line style park at the heart of the scheme. Commercial and community spaces within the railway arches link through to the residential amenities provided in the new buildings and together with new public staircases and lift provide a multi-level regeneration around this striking industrial heritage feature.
The materials and appearance of the new architecture is influenced by the structure and Leeds’ industrial heritage with all buildings clad in soft red and brown brickwork to stand on dark ceramic bases, fluted with salt glazed finish reflecting the viaduct’s stonework. The blocks respond to the viaduct form, curving gently, climbing in scale to a tower of 21 storeys overlooking the River and the city, creating a strong and locally rooted identity for the project.
Leeds I consists of 463 homes opening up to the viaduct and the mixture of uses that the viaduct provides.
Leeds II is a pair of octagonal buildings that open up the site to the canal and create a new open public space in addition to providing to 488 homes.
