architecture

The future of Manchester

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After taking you a long way away, it’s back to my home city of Manchester and right in the backyard.

I’ve lived in the canalside area of Castlefield for three years now, and have been watching huge changes take place. 

A cluster of high rise blocks called Deansgate Square has sprung up and dominates the immediate skyline, overlooking the neighbourhood. One of the towers is now the city’s tallest building. On a clear, sunny day I went out to photograph them and the nearby Axis tower, another new addition.

This is the story of Manchester’s city centre, where several skyscrapers are being constructed and planned in an incredible flurry of prestige developments. ‘Manchattan’ here we come!

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A golden dusk settles on the buildings of Castlefield. Deansgate Square, on the right, was not there when I first arrived. Beetham Tower, on the left, was once the area’s only high rise and Manchester’s tallest building. The cranes are the site of another high rise construction, while out of shot another two towers are quickly taking shape. The skyline is undoubtedly changing.

Iceland’s cool capital

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Welcome to the world’s most northerly capital city. Reykjavik is the hub of Iceland, a small nation two hours north by air from my home in Manchester, UK.

Wrapped up warm, I spent a day exploring it by foot before seeing some of the country’s amazing landscapes and quickly realised it wasn’t your regular city.

It feels quite small and parochial in some respects, yet has some bold, landmark architecture including the elegant Hallgrimskirkja and ultra modern Harpa concert hall.

A bus ride to Perlan’s beautiful viewpoint makes you realise the rugged Icelandic landscape almost closes in on Reykjavik – a unique capital city for what is no ordinary country.

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Swiss sojourn

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In this year of travel, it was nice to be invited on a relaxing break by a friend and simply tag along. It was my first visit to Switzerland and the lakeside city of Montreux. A budget flight from Manchester to Geneva and an efficient train ride later, we had arrived.

A stay in a genteel hotel with a stunning Alpine view and walks along the shore of Lake Geneva made this a proper little holiday, with the scenery and quaint old part of the town keeping my camera busy.

Queen legend Freddie Mercury had a home in Montreux and one of the city’s main attractions is a statue dedicated to his memory. It’s easy to see why he decided to spend time here.

As for Switzerland, it’s clean, works well but will eat into your holiday money. A cheaper lakeside alternative could be Ohrid in North Macedonia, but the polished backdrop of the Alps is hard to beat.

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North Macedonia: Sunshine state

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Is this a trip to the tourist haven of Florida? No. It’s a nod to this nation’s vibrant flag – a yellow, beaming sun rising on a bright red background. It’s one of Europe’s lesser visited countries but is worth a glance.

This landlocked Balkan state has been known as North Macedonia since February, resolving a long dispute with neighbours Greece. It was the southern flank of Yugoslavia until that country began to fragment in 1991.

A short tour through North Macedonia took in the capital city Skopje, which is littered with grand buildings and countless statues, some of them peculiarly oversized. You have the sense this country is grasping for an identity.

Travel to the south-west of the country and you’ll find the tranquil shores of Lake Ohrid where North Macedonians take their holidays. The small city of Ohrid is laced with old architecture, churches and magnificent ramparts.

North Macedonia isn’t yet a tourist hotspot – surely the best time to visit?

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Porto: Portuguese gem

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Portugal’s capital Lisbon is a hugely popular destination for tourists. But not content with this, the Portuguese also have a second city to discover and enjoy.

Porto sits on the Douro estuary in the north of the country. It’s packed with charming old tiled houses, grand buildings which indicate its rich history, not to mention delicious food and drink.

For the photographer, there’s something on every corner and vantage points galore. And if you take a bus ride to Foz do Douro, there’s also an Atlantic beach experience close by.

This was a typical city break experience for my friend and I, with budget flights from the UK, a very pleasant apartment hotel, and walking galore. If you have a spare long weekend, get yourself to Porto.

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