TREE OF REMEMBERANCE (PICCADILLY GARDENS, MANCHESTER)

I heard alot about the Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester City, so that was my first stop when i went to visit. It was a beautiful sunny day, and because it is school holidays, the place was packed with youths and kids, playing in the water fountains, and not caring if they got completely drenched. Other than the jetting water fountains, i cant say there was much else that attracted my attention. But as i took a closer look at my surrounding, i spotted a tall metal sculpture at one corner of the site. It was The Tree Of Rememberance and just beautiful. I loved how the artist managed to make the metal leaves look so delicate. This is the best feature at Piccadilly Gardens in my opinion, and worth the visit.

THE EXCHANGE SQUARE AND URBIS CENTRE (MANCHESTER)

In June 1996 the IRA exploded a 3,300lb bomb, the largest ever detonated in the UK in peacetime. The town centre was severely damaged - initial estimates put the cost at £700 million and 670 businesses had to relocate. Out of the horror of the bomb the city seized the chance to transform the town centre.

Within days, a task force had been set up to plan the rebuilding and from this an international competition was launched to model a new open space, Exchange Square. The winning design was by Martha Schwarz of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Some people have criticised the design as being gimmicky, but I like it. There are benches shaped like railway wagons, the famous 'tilting windmills' (by John Hyatt of MIRIAD) and the water feature you see in the foreground which represents an ancient waterway which once flowed here, Hanging Ditch.

Located also at the heart of Manchester, Urbis is an exhibition centre focusing on city life. Urbis' exhibition programme explores the culture and dynamism of cities around the world, covering photography, design, architecture, music, contemporary art and much more.

MANCHESTER CITY

Afew weeks ago, i visited manchester to see how the city is being redeveloped. There are quite a number of contemporary residential apartment coming up around and within the city centre. expansion of streets is taking place and the city centre is moving further into the rest of the city. There are afew interesting public spaces within the city centre, and alot of activities to do. The city generally has a younger crowd than most, mainly because of the universities located afew minutes from the city centre. It has always been a very young vibrant town because of all the students, and now finally the surroundings will match it.