Lisbon Street

Transforming a long-vacant site, the masterplan provides much-needed residential, student, and commercial spaces that respond to the city’s growing demand for high-quality, mixed-use development. By integrating diverse functions and improving local infrastructure and connectivity, the scheme will play a key role in re-energising the area’s economic and social vitality. 

Once home to the Leeds International Swimming Pool, an innovative Brutalist landmark building of its time, the site has been temporarily used as a car park since 2009. The surrounding area is rich in architectural detail from immediate the contemporary aesthetic of the surrounding site buildings to the wider characteristic historic vernacular, the area provides an inspiring setting for the new architecture. 

This project not only revitalises a long-vacant parcel of land but also meets the city’s growing demand for residential, student and commercial spaces. By integrating diverse functionalities and enhancing local infrastructure and connectivity, the development is set to significantly revitalise to the economic and social vibrancy of the area.

The scheme thoughtfully responds to its urban context by respecting the scale and form of neighbouring buildings. Taller buildings in a string along the inner ring road not only act as gateways into the city core but make for a more legible environment for visitors. The building blocks, in alignment with the city grid, progressively rise in height from the city centre out to the Ring Rd. North / South across the site the building mass acknowledges the neighbouring building blocks, again progressively rising in height to the centre of the site (in alignment with Park Place) and reducing again to the site perimeter.

We have explored the manipulation of the facade systems to form various profiles and add articulation to the façades. In turn the facades play with light and shadow throughout the day and reflect light in different ways. Due to the building’s height, we have adopted a tripartite composition on the blocks which sits well, particularly adding detail, texture and relief at the lower levels, where it would be most appreciated, to add richness and a finer grain of texture to the overall building compositions.

A fundamental principle of the masterplan is to stitch back the urban fabric to create a strong sense of place with high quality public realm in which people want to live, work and visit – an inclusive place which encourages interaction and engagement with the spaces and actively encourages diverse cultural richness through small interactions or more major events. The creation of a high-quality, mixed-use development set within a vibrant new public realm is at the heart of these proposals. 

The expansive public realm offer creates a series of distinct character areas radiating from a civic-scale central square, framed by new urban blocks. The building uses include an aparthotel, offices, residential blocks and student living accommodation with food and drink, amenity and leisure use at ground floor. 

Working with Room2, the 17-storey, 200 bed hotel will feature a Café and Bar, meeting and event space, studio gym, laundry, and two exciting retail concessions which will spill out and connect with the central courtyard amenity space providing an active frontage and natural surveillance.  

The carefully considered building height and warm red brick tones allow the scheme to blend into the adjacent conservation area while sitting comfortably within the family of buildings. Internally the scheme takes its cue from operator Room2.  

The building will be net zero in both operational and embodied carbon and is due to start on site in Q1 of 2026.  

The landmark Build-to-Rent scheme recently advanced to Gateway 2, will deliver 578 homes housed within two towers. These are linked by a podium structure featuring a rooftop garden and a full complement of resident amenity space. The scheme includes basement parking, and two dedicated retail units at ground level to serve both residents and the wider neighbourhood. 

We are acting in several key roles for this project. including Architect, Interior Designer, and Principal Designer. We have been overseeing all compliance matters throughout the design stages, including safety, accessibility, and regulatory performance. 

The 24-storey Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) scheme delivers 548 student apartments. This student scheme includes a suite of shared facilities: a gym, roof terrace, games room, communal study areas, and links with the central courtyard garden. Designed by DLA the scheme has now been delivered by another practice.