• Jutting out into the skyline for all to see, the Beetham Tower, a 169-metre building was very much of its era, a pre-recession project that spoke of Manchester’s aspirations — not to mention the then buoyancy of its housing market.
    Jutting out into the skyline for all to see, the Beetham Tower, a 169-metre building was very much of its era, a pre-recession project that spoke of Manchester’s aspirations — not to mention the then buoyancy of its housing market.
  • While height is one of the apartment’s distinguishing features, the scale — a total area of 12,500 square feet — and volume — which Simpson capitalised on by introducing a double height space, with a seven-metre-high ceiling, in the more formal living room — is equally important.
    While height is one of the apartment’s distinguishing features, the scale — a total area of 12,500 square feet — and volume — which Simpson capitalised on by introducing a double height space, with a seven-metre-high ceiling, in the more formal living room — is equally important.
  • All the rooms flow into each other; the only doors in the entire apartment are in the bedrooms and bathrooms.
    All the rooms flow into each other; the only doors in the entire apartment are in the bedrooms and bathrooms.
  • It took Simpson two years to design and fit-out his apartment — and he did it knowing that this would be his residence for some time to come. “I wouldn’t find anywhere I would enjoy living in more. So I am very much about not moving again. I was very fortunate to find a space I really enjoy living in, in a city I am committed to regenerating.”
    It took Simpson two years to design and fit-out his apartment — and he did it knowing that this would be his residence for some time to come. “I wouldn’t find anywhere I would enjoy living in more. So I am very much about not moving again. I was very fortunate to find a space I really enjoy living in, in a city I am committed to regenerating.”
  • Simpson wanted to have spaces that were connected visually but, with an apartment this large, he recognised that there was a danger of it feeling “cavernous and empty”.
    Simpson wanted to have spaces that were connected visually but, with an apartment this large, he recognised that there was a danger of it feeling “cavernous and empty”.
  • “I don’t like suburbs as a rule – I like the buzz and creativity and sharing of ideas that comes with people living shoulder to shoulder in a city. I’ve always enjoyed living in apartments. But here, I have the scale of a house, with a garden, without having to worry about the security issues associated with a house. I have spectacular views and all the natural light I require. I’ve been able to create my house in the sky,” said Simpson.
    “I don’t like suburbs as a rule – I like the buzz and creativity and sharing of ideas that comes with people living shoulder to shoulder in a city. I’ve always enjoyed living in apartments. But here, I have the scale of a house, with a garden, without having to worry about the security issues associated with a house. I have spectacular views and all the natural light I require. I’ve been able to create my house in the sky,” said Simpson.

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In pictures: Architect Ian Simpson’s luxe Manchester penthouse

James Ohara

May 08, 2014

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It took architect Ian Simpson two years to design and fit-out his penthouse apartment in Beetham Tower in Manchester, England. All photos by Karen Fuchs / Gerber GMC.

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