Trafford Centre:
The idea of The Trafford Centre was conceived in 1984.
Planning permission was sought in 1986 and approval was finally upheld by the House of
Lords in 1995.
It took 27 months to build and opened on 10th September 1998.
Unlike most other shopping malls, the centre is set amidst a 150-acre site of beautiful
landscaping. Influenced by the landscaped boulevards of Los Angeles, borders of fresh
woodland plants line all routes in to the Centre and natural wooded areas surround the
building.
Where is it in relation to the town or city?
The Trafford Centre is located in Greater Manchester, England. In the Metropolitan Borough
of Trafford, the centre is within the Trafford Park industrial estate, five miles west of
Manchester city centre.
The Great Hall!
• The Great Hall entrance has one of the world’s largest chandeliers – so big it houses
its own interior staircase! Made up of thousands of pieces of Chinese crystal, the
chandelier measures 11m x 9m and weighs a hefty 5 ½ tons.
• The Great Hall staircase is made of Chicken Red Marble from the Luoyong district of
China and was modelled on the staircase of the Titanic.
• Extensive use has been made of natural stone for the floors of the malls and for the
frontages and interiors of the shops. The different stones used were chosen for their
attractiveness in terms of colour and pattern. The variety of stone types used are an
example of all three major rock types to be seen in the earth’s crust.
• Outside The Great Hall entrance you’ll find the Trafford Crest Sculpture consisting of
a Roman Centurion, a griffin and a unicorn. The piece is based on various elements
within the Trafford Coat of Arms and took 16 months to complete.
• The preserved Wilderspool Wood, near The Great Hall entrance, attracts a host of
birds including green finch, wrens and blue tits.
Why was this design chosen?
I believe this large grand design was chosen in order to represent the opulence and scale of
Trafford and its area. Encouraging visitors to come, spend and enjoy a full day in the
American-style capitalism-eat-your-heart-out mall.
What is the message of the design?
The whole building is stuffed full of little nods to important figures and places.
Its rococo/late baroque architectural style pays homage to the history of the area. While the
Orient food hall is themed as a steam ship, reflecting the centre's proximity to
the Manchester Ship Canal. Overall, the design aims to celebrate the history and area of
Trafford and aims to encourage more visitors.
