THING OF THE WEEK
BABIES BREATH… Factory International is due to officially open next June for the Manchester International Festival. Later in 2023, a Matrix-themed immersive extravaganza directed by Danny Boyle called Free Your Mind will launch at the £210m arts centre. But before all of that good stuff, artist Luke Jerram has something special planned to ring in the new year. First Breath is a light display that will see powerful beams of light cast up into the clouds – think Tribute in Light in New York. The lights, which will be switched on every evening from 1 to 29 January between 4pm – 10pm, are a celebration of new life and will gently pulse to represent the first breaths of babies born on that day in Greater Manchester, according to Jerram. You may already be familiar with his work. He was the artist behind Floating Earth, which was seen by thousands in Media City in Salford late last year.
A sight for sore eyes. Credit: Place North West
A WARM WELCOME… The ugly jumble of fences and cones and the deafening din of pneumatic drills outside Liverpool Lime Street station have been stubborn mainstays for what seems like forever. Mercifully, those days are over and the environment that awaits travellers now is far less chaotic and much more befitting a city of Liverpool’s stature.
Credit: via Innesco
FRESH LOOKS… Last week, Cheshire West and Chester approved a 162-bed hotel from investment manager Cervidae and development manager AXIS-RE. This week, we have a better idea of what Donald Insall Associates designs will look like, thanks to a new CGI. Rather snazzy, no? It’ll be interesting to see how residents take to this new addition to Chester’s Frodsham Street – and its rooftop restaurant.
The stadium is due to complete in 2024. Credit: via planning documents
IT’S COMING HOME… The future Everton stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool could be one of the host venues for Euro 2028. The Meis Studio and Pattern-designed stadium has been shortlisted as one of the possible 14 stadia for the event as part of the UK and Ireland’s preliminary bid for the tournament. Among Everton’s competition? Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium. Absent? Anfield, which is bound to sweeten some Toffees’ day.
Delighted to have a sneak preview of the refurbished machinery floor at @Hatworksmuseum with the Leader of @StockportMBC and @JuliaHatmaker from @PlaceNorthWest. The latest phase of an exciting project to bring this much-loved Stockport landmark up to date. pic.twitter.com/SKkBwPIWgQ
— Caroline Simpson (@SMBC_chiefexec) November 17, 2022
HATS OFF… The refurbishment of the Hat Works Museum in Stockport is well underway. Place’s resident Hatmaker went for a tour of the factory floor to see how the work is progressing and came back cap-tivated. While the museum still has a long way to go (the old hat gallery of bonnets has yet to make a comeback) the exhibits on the factory floor are well worth a visit to learn more about an industry that put a feather in Stockport’s cap back in the day – and the people who made it great. Tickets for guided tours of the factory floor exhibition area are available at eventbrite.co.uk/o/stockport-council-museums-service-9850717694.
