It’s not just history…We naturally use labels to help us make sense of things. I’m an architect, so it is often assumed that my tours are simply about architecture. And because I tell stories from Manchester’s past, they are often described as history tours. There is some truth in both descriptions, but neither quite captures what I’m trying to do. For me, being an architect has never been only about individual buildings. It means learning how to read places: the buildings, streets, spaces and public realm; how they work together; how people use them; and why some places feel successful while others do not. The past helps explain the present. I talk about the people who have shaped Manchester and the events it has lived through, some tragic, others celebratory. But history is the starting point, not the whole story. I also talk about how Manchester operates today, how it continues to change and where it may be heading next. Granadaland is a perfect example. Its railways, canal, warehouses and television studios explain how the area became what it is. But its story continues in the new neighbourhood now emerging there, and in plans for even more homes in the future. My tours are really about understanding places: here, then and now. I hope to see you soon on the streets of Manchester…! Ric
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