New urban fabric will connect Tyneside icons

Gateshead is set to complete its transformation, creating a family-friendly townscape that connects its iconic new structures, to a design by architects Watkins Gray International.

Gateshead is set to complete its transformation into an international cultural destination, creating a family-friendly townscape that connects its iconic new structures, to a design by architects Watkins Gray International.

Since 2000 Gateshead Council has built the BALTIC Contemporary Arts Centre, the Sterling Prize-winning Gateshead Millennium Bridge and, most recently, The Sage Gateshead, a world-class concert hall venue.

These have attracted increasing numbers of visitors to the area, creating a vibrant culture and boosting the local economy.

Gateshead Council has now appointed a consortium including Watkins Gray and led by Kier Property to develop the urban fabric at the heart of Gateshead Quays.

The objective is to create a new urban setting for these international landmarks, with restaurants and speciality shops, along with a cinema, major hotel and other leisure facilities.

There will also be up to 325 apartments, 5000sqm (50,000sqft) of office space and underground vehicular servicing and car park for up to 500 vehicles.

Having drawn up a short list of four developers, the Council unanimously selected Watkins Gray's design because it was most successful in providing a new urban quarter, incorporating a network of public spaces, small streets and courtyards and hanging gardens overlooking the Tyne, creating a family-friendly destination in its own right.

The near-20m change in level across the site is achieved predominantly by meandering pedestrian streets rising through the 2.2ha (5.5acre) development.

Shorter stepped routes, a traditional feature of the Tyne Gorge, and glazed public lifts provide alternative and more direct routes across the area.

The 100 million GBP development will complement, rather than compete with, the existing attractions.

It will transform the amenities for potential residents, occupiers of the nearby Baltic Business Quarter and students attending the new Gateshead College opening in 2008.

The site, currently a car park, is one of the most valuable development sites in the North East.

Work will begin on site early in 2008, with construction expected to take five years.

The housing will help to generate a sustainable community and up to 2000 jobs will be created in the retail and office space.

Thus the social and economic benefits of regenerating the riverfront will spread deep into the town and surrounding area.

Watkins Gray partner Alistair Walker explains: "With GQ2 we have achieved a balanced mix of retail, leisure and residential space, combined with buildings of architectural excellence in a vibrant and exciting urban design.

The Tyne Gorge has a long and proud heritage, signified by its many well-loved bridges and fine buildings, which we will complement and enhance by the scale and design of the new development".

The masterplan provides natural flowing routes between the major public buildings, within a traffic-free environment, notes Walker.

"We have made the most of views across the Tyne, and networked together a series of intimate courtyards, activity hubs, children's play areas and green spaces.

Public artworks and water features will be strategically placed to signpost routes and draw visitors into different areas".

Sustainability in terms of both the community and the environment has been high on the development agenda and several innovative ideas are under consideration.

Two cinema screens will be dedicated to arts films.

Provision is being made for the use of electric servicing vehicles.

Each building will be individually designed and to a human scale, creating a rich urban tapestry.

The living, working and leisure environments created at GQ2 will be of the highest quality, providing a fitting urban fabric for the iconic buildings that have already done so much to redefine Gateshead and the North East for the 21st Century.

"In keeping with the buzzing atmosphere GQ2 will create, a high density residential community will be formed, in imaginative buildings each designed to maximise the benefits of its immediate environment.

For instance, apartments in sheltered locations will include balconies while extensive roof gardens exploit views over the Tyne.

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