Jodrell Bank Story by WPL (UK) Ltd Jodrell Bank Jodrell Bank Observatory Story by FCB Studios (Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios) Jodrell Bank Observatory

Jodrell Bank Observatory

FCB Studios (Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios) as Architects

In 2009 the University of Manchester’s Centre for Astrophysics appointed us to masterplan the famous Jodrell Bank Observatory site and then design a series of new buildings within the park of the Grade 1 listed Lovell Radio Telescope.

photo_credit Hufton & Crow
Hufton & Crow

The first project brief was to create an inspirational visitor centre to communicate the importance and relevance of the scientific research undertaken at Jodrell to a wider audience.

photo_credit Hufton & Crow
Hufton & Crow

Following the completion of the visitor centre, the University of Manchester asked the team to help expand the scientific research facilities on site and design the global HQ for the world’s next-generation radio telescope known as the Square Kilometre Array. Third and fourth phases of work are ongoing.

photo_credit Hufton & Crow
Hufton & Crow
photo_credit Hufton & Crow
Hufton & Crow
photo_credit Hufton & Crow
Hufton & Crow
photo_credit Hufton & Crow
Hufton & Crow
Caption
Caption

Jodrell Bank

WPL (UK) Ltd as Manufacturers

Space is the final frontier, but not for WPL who designed manufactured and built a scaled down version of the Milky way over a picnic environment for visitors to the famous Jodrell Bank Observatory, part of the University of Manchester.

The anodised aluminium panels offer a magnificent finish wholly synchronised with this cutting edge space facility being home to the third largest steerable radio telescope tracking Stars and Planets which make up our Galaxy or better known as the Milky Way.

Caption

Hence, the Design Team at WPL was asked to produce an exact replica of the Map of the Milky Way into solid aluminium panels using in-house CNC operated machinery with awe inspiring detail. The possibilities are endless with perforations thanks to WPL’s CNC operated turret press which individually punches every hole as opposed to using a line tool that punches a full row at a time.

Caption

Clients often approach the Design Team with images that they would like to see on their perforated screens/panels which we produce into a series of holes using hole mapping software. By using multiple hole sizes WPL achieve any desired level of detail. Popular options are trees and leaves but the limitations have been extended to portraits of Roman Gladiators as well as maps of entire galaxies.

Caption
Products Behind Projects
Product Spotlight
News
Sports Hall by Grido architekti references functionalism of 1930s Czech architecture
14 Feb 2025 News
Sports Hall by Grido architekti references functionalism of 1930s Czech architecture

Czech architectural studio Grido architekti has designed a sports hall for the pupils of an elementa... More

UNStudio’s new Chongqing development balances demand for high-rise living with health and well-being of residents
10 Feb 2025 News
UNStudio’s new Chongqing development balances demand for high-rise living with health and well-being of residents

International architecture and design practice UNStudio has completed 18T Mansion, a high-rise resid... More

Archello houses of the month - January 2025
5 Feb 2025 News
Archello houses of the month - January 2025

Archello has selected its houses of the month for January 2025. This list showcases 20 of the m... More

Polish Embassy in Berlin by JEMS Architekci is a “testament to architectural diplomacy”
4 Feb 2025 News
Polish Embassy in Berlin by JEMS Architekci is a “testament to architectural diplomacy”

A project that was thirteen years in the making, the new Polish Embassy in Berlin officially opened... More

Ika.architekti builds fun and functional DIY sauna in Brno
31 Jan 2025 News
Ika.architekti builds fun and functional DIY sauna in Brno

Brno-based ika.architekti has built an upcycled sauna using an array of old materials. The project i... More

Francine Houben, Isabel Van Haute, Stephan Chevalier and DaeWha Kang named as Archello Awards 2025 jurors
27 Jan 2025 Archello Awards
Francine Houben, Isabel Van Haute, Stephan Chevalier and DaeWha Kang named as Archello Awards 2025 jurors

Archello is pleased to announce the first group of its esteemed jurors for the newly launched Archel... More

HGAA expands restaurant in Bãi Cháy with a building that embraces nature
27 Jan 2025 News
HGAA expands restaurant in Bãi Cháy with a building that embraces nature

Vietnamese architectural studio HGAA was included in Archello’s list of the 25 best architectu... More

Mole Architects elevates “mundane” 1960s English bungalow with new extension
27 Jan 2025 News
Mole Architects elevates “mundane” 1960s English bungalow with new extension

Cambridge-based architectural studio Mole Architects has completed the upgrade and extension of an e... More