Bowman Riley has designed a major new residential development of 759 stylish apartments adjacent to Salford Quays, a site of major regeneration of the former Manchester Docks. The four acre site consists of two late 1960s office buildings and associated parking. Built in a modern international style, the existing buildings are designed to resemble ships and are architecturally unique within Salford Quays. Although distinctive in their architectural merit the buildings have been under-occupied for years and their elevations have become tired and in need of refurbishment to bring them in line with neighbouring developments. The design concept is to celebrate these buildings, which has influenced the overall site regeneration master plan. Planning has been obtained for the retention of the existing buildings and their conversion to apartments, embracing the curved form of the original architecture. Up to six additional storeys will be added to these buildings. The development introduces three new residential blocks across the site master plan including a 27 storey tower (the tallest outside of MediaCity), a large H plan block and a smaller building with an active street frontage resulting in 759 apartments. As part of the master plan, the new and refurbished structures will be integrated within a new landscaping scheme linked with a network of new and upgraded pedestrian and traffic routes. The development brings a new lease of life to the site and enhances the existing urban grain to create a vibrant new area, which will regenerate far beyond the development site boundary. In conjunction with specialist consultants, the tall building elements are designed with flair and imagination and form an iconic focal point.