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Industry acclaim for Jasper's 'box within a box'

Jill Burdett, Manchester Evening News

10/12/2008

Designer Jasper Sanders describes it pragmatically as 'a box within a box' but the distinctive Abito development has won more industry gongs than just about any other residential scheme in Manchester.

Current tally, says Sanders, is 18 and he and the rest of the design team at architects BDP are understandably chuffed.

He said: "When you come up with something so mould-breaking, it is incredibly rewarding to have others recognise its merit."

Indeed, the concept was so radical that they had to build a full scale mock-up of an apartment to demonstrate just how much living space could be packed into such a small unit.

The essence is of a cube of space with a central "box" that houses kitchen/bathroom/storage and laundry and divides the sleeping area from the living space which also flows out onto a deep enclosed balcony.

Elimination of dead space was a priority.  Sanders said: "We looked at several examples of concept living, taking inspiration from the way the Japanese have successfully utilised smaller spaces.

"Abito stands out for putting people at the heart of the design.  Everything has been super-condensed and, by removing the need for corridors, we've been able to put that space back into the living areas."  He calculates that they are so space efficient they provide more usable living spaces than an apartment half as big again, 

While Manchester planners have been sceptical, Salford's have embraced this pod living concept with the first Abito at Greengate, just off Chapel Street (look for its distinctive sail-like roof), and a second making a similar impact at Salford Quays.

The concept's the same, with a soaring central core with apartments off, and at Greengate most of the 256 units are occupied.  The lower floors initially sold for around £85,000 and were reserved for first time buyers.  Units higher up the building - which have great views over Manchester and Salford - can be picked up for around £110,000 and there are also some larger Abito+ units which give more living space and storage.  Rents are between £450 and £500 per month.

At the quays, people have already moved into the first and second floors and the building is due to be completed early next year.

Sanders said: "We learned a lot on the first Abito at Greengate about which parts of the concept were hard to deliver and which features hard to procure and we tweaked the design a little bit for the Quays."

The tweaks apparently mean better acoustics around the central pod and a bathroom accessed by a standard door rather than doors that fold out to form part of the room.

Sanders said: "While the fundamental concept of a box within a box will remain the same, we expect there will be slight changes on every Abito we do to try to improve further and take into consideration the site and context."

Bolton has been earmarked as a potential location for the third Abito but it is really the London market that the developer's Ask Life, want to access.

Sanders said: "When we come out of recession people will insist on quality and sustainability.  It will be less about 'lifestyle' and more about form and function.  People will want something better, cheaper and leaner.

"But they will also want something that delivers all that but still manages to be distinctively individual and a little bit quirky.  I think it's a bit ahead of its time."

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