Some keen Leeds citizens have noted in late 2016 that the John Lewis Building in Leeds was not finished. While the store is certainly open and trading, the facade has a few blank areas, where our planning drawings showed glazed terracotta.

The original supplier of the material had gone into liquidation during the construction period, and it took a long time to develop an alternative product with new suppliers and to get the right warranties. We have finally inspected the new mock-up with the new tiles this week.

The decorative pattern is created by terracotta tiles coated in a bronze metallic finish, inspired by the rich terracotta heritage from the former Burmantoff terracotta works located close-by.
We designed 4 hexagonal tiles, which can be rotated during installation to create the appearance of a random, non-repetitive pattern.
The terracotta tiles were pressed in Germany by NBK. The innovative metallic coating is by Teamwork in Italy. The mock-up was built by Adept in Nottingham.

Mamsha Gardens draws inspiration from the natural surroundings of the island and boasts signature landscaped gardens in which residents can relax and unwind. The gardens will feature water-efficient irrigation systems and a selection of native plant species, ensuring that the landscape thrives with minimal resource consumption.

The development features seven residential buildings comprising 493 homes thoughtfully designed with premium finishes and fittings. The development features a range of amenities, including two centrally located pavilions with gyms, yoga, Pilates and meditation rooms, as well as swimming pools, kids’ play areas, a multi-use games area, underground parking, bike storage, and residents’ lounges with workspaces and lounge seating. 

Mamsha Gardens will also include restaurants with outdoor dining terraces and shops, as well as a community theatre and separate retail underground parking. The locations of each of these spaces have been strategically designed to attract foot traffic and provide a vibrant social space while affording residents the utmost privacy.

In line with Aldar’s goals to promote sustainable living and building practices, the development is targeting a 3 Pearl Estidama rating and a 3-star rating from Fitwel - the world’s leading certification system for optimising building health and wellness outcomes. 50% of both retail and residential parking will be EV ready, and residents will have several pedestrian routes to explore.

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