Leeds is gearing up to welcome an exciting new addition to its shopping scene – the Victoria Gate centre, designed by London-based Acme Architects and developed by retail specialists Hammerson. Opening its doors at the end of this year, the £165 million project will provide the northern city with a variety of luxurious retail units, lounges, restaurants, cafes and leisure spaces, all of which will be contained within the elegantly designed two-street wide arcade.
The architects were briefed to create a contemporary retail location, which would pay homage to the surrounding area's heritage and Leeds’ 19th and 20th century historic arcades. They duly obliged. The building’s striking geometric façade drew inspiration from patterns found within Leeds’ rich textile history, while red clay bricks at the structure’s upper levels produce a playful three-dimensional effect.
White terracotta is used in the plinths framing the storefronts on Eastgate and George Street, with the remainder of the centre’s shop fronts constructed from a glazed black ceramic and curved glass, in keeping with the surrounding area’s traditional Victorian aesthetic. An ornamental roof with feature lighting provides plenty of light to the upper level of the arcade, which houses the centre’s restaurants and leisure areas.
The site, formerly known as the Harewood and Eastgate quarters, will total an impressive 42,000 sq m and the developers have set their sights on acquiring a BREEAM rating of excellence (the world's foremost environmental assessment system for buildings). The team aims to achieve this through a series of initiatives, such as natural ventilation, integration of solar panels and by providing each of the centre’s tenants with a sustainability guide.
The £165 million project, which will open later this year, will provide the northern city with its first flagship John Lewis store and a wide variety of luxurious retail units, lounges, restaurants, cafes and leisure spaces
The architects set out to create a contemporary retail location, which would pay homage to the surrounding area's heritage and Leeds' 19th and 20th century historic arcades
Red clay bricks at the structure’s upper levels produce a three-dimensional façade, while white terracotta plinths frame the shop fronts on the adjacent Eastgate and George Street
The building’s striking geometric shell was largely inspired by a series of patterns Acme found when researching Leeds' rich textile history
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Victoria Gate website
Images courtesy Acme
-
King of cashmere Brunello Cucinelli on his new biographical docu-drama: ‘This is my testimony’Directed by Cinema Paradiso’s Giuseppe Tornatore, ‘Brunello: the Gracious Visionary’ premiered in cinematic fashion at Rome’s Cinecittà studios last night, charting the meteoric rise of the deep-thinking Italian designer
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt’s wet, windy and wintry and, this week, the Wallpaper* team craved moments of escape. We found it in memories of the Mediterranean, flavours of Mexico, and immersions in the worlds of music and art
-
Bottega for Bottegas 2025 invites artisans to reinterpret the ritual of the aperitivoThe annual initiative showcases makers and creatives who share Bottega Veneta’s dedication to craft. This year’s objects come together as an exquisite, modern still life
-
A revived public space in Aberdeen is named Scotland’s building of the yearAberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens by Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design and LDA Design wins the 2025 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award
-
A refreshed 1950s apartment in East London allows for moments of discoveryWith this 1950s apartment redesign, London-based architects Studio Naama wanted to create a residence which reflects the fun and individual nature of the clients
-
In this Cotswolds home, drama meets minimalismCotswolds home Hiaven house, with interiors designed by McLaren Excell, is a perfect blend of contemporary chic and calm, countryside drama
-
David Kohn’s first book, ‘Stages’, is unpredictable, experimental and informativeThe first book on David Kohn Architects focuses on the work of the award-winning London-based practice; ‘Stages’ is an innovative monograph in 12 parts
-
Find solace in the forest at this expansive treehouse retreat in DorsetFor sale for the first time, a treehouse, Mallinson’s Woodland Retreat, is a tribute to the skill of designer and master craftsman Guy Mallinson
-
Modernist Scotland explores the country’s impressive legacy of contemporary architectureA new book, Modernist Scotland, delves into the art and ambitions of the International Style in post-war Scotland, presenting 150 projects that typify an age of optimism and innovation.
-
100 George Street is the new kid on the block in fashionable MaryleboneLondon's newest luxury apartment building brings together a sensitive exterior and thoughtful, 21st-century interiors
-
Take a tour of Retrofit House, the live showcase inspiring sustainable homebuildingRetrofit House, a showcase for residential redesign using biomaterials and environmentally smart methods, opens in Birmingham, UK, spearheaded by Civic Square, Dark Matter Labs and Material Cultures; we paid it a visit
