Maple façades take multi-storey design to new heights

Work has begun on a new multi-storey car park in the centre of Liverpool that architects say will contribute positively to the character of the city.

Maple is delivering a distinctive façade for the five-floor development on the site of a surface car park on Victoria Street. It’s the latest example of architectural façades being used to transform the exterior design of large building structures such as car parks.

Managing Director Christian Gilham from Architects Leach Rhodes Walker, car park specialists, said the sensitively designed façade is ‘in keeping with the sensitive surrounding context of the site’ and would shimmer in the sunlight.

The choice of an anodised panel complemented that of the natural tones of the surrounding stone buildings.

And he’s confident about saying so, as the project was one of the first to use the new dedicated prototype area at Maple’s factory in Stockport.

Architects, planners and contractors Wilmott Dixon were able to view full size examples of the bespoke perforated panels and expanded mesh infills in advance – at actual size.

The £6.5m project, which will include retail units, cafés and restaurants as well as 333 car park spaces, is part of a wider regeneration scheme for Liverpool city centre. The site has been empty since the old municipal buildings were destroyed in World War Two.

Liverpool council’s planning report said: “The proposed scheme has been designed to ensure its scale and massing is in keeping with the surrounding context. The contemporary design will provide high quality car park facilities in the city centre.”