42nd Street

Completed in 2011, 42nd Street is a mental health centre for young people in Manchester's Ancoats Conservation Area. Designed by Studio Maurice Shapero, the building features a distinctive 'leaning' wall that slices through the site, creating a triangular, double-height space. A 17-meter-long glass slot cuts through the core, allowing natural light to penetrate. The design includes four steel 'Sentinels' at the entrance, and interior elements like angled rooms and wardrobes leading to therapy spaces. The project received several awards, including Manchester Society of Architects Building of the Year and Best Innovative Design at the Northern Design Awards. (mauriceshapero.com)