Urbis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Urbis exhibition centre in Manchester.

Urbis is an exhibition centre in central Manchester, England.

The centre features interactive exhibits and changing exhibitions on the subject of city life. Urbis challenges ideas and concepts relating to the development of cities and highlights both environmental and social issues that must be considered in the future development of the urban environment. Like many modern museums Urbis is highly interactive and is developed with education and learning as a key focus.

Urbis' programme of changing exhibitions focuses on the culture of the modern city, with explorations of design, architecture, graffiti, photography, music and fashion.

The building opened in June 2002 as part of the redevelopment of the area around Exchange Square known as the Millennium Quarter. After initial controversy over funding, including criticism from the local Liberal Democrats, Urbis had its most successful year ever in 2006^[1].

1 The building and exhibitions
2 Exhibitions
- 2.1 2007
- 2.2 2006
- 2.3 2005
- 2.4 2004
- 2.5 2003
- 2.6 2002
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] The building and exhibitions

Urbis from the side, showing garden and fountains

Urbis is located in a unique building in Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, designed by Ian Simpson. The design and shape of the building can be compared with the Flatiron Building in New York.

The exhibition centre is set across five floors. Floor four focus on life in Manchester; floors two and three contain interactive exhibits on various aspects of city life. The first and ground floors hold temporary exhibitions which change regularly.

Urbis also contains The Social (a bar and cafe), a shop, rooms for corporate hire and a restaurant and bar on the fifth and sixth floors. Manchester's television station Channel M has recently moved its offices and studios into the building.