Sage Gateshead
See the Unusual building design of the week series here.
Sage Gateshead is a music education and concert centre located on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead. Designed by Foster and Partners and completed in 2004, the building is an example of high-tech architecture and 'blobitecture'.
The building comprises three performance spaces which are acoustically independent, separated from one another to prevent noise transfer. Due to strong coastal winds, and a sometimes inclement climate, it was decided to group the structures together under a single protective cover.
The three independent, reinforced concrete structures containing the performance spaces are expressed on the outside by the undulation of the roof. To improve the acoustic performance of the structures, a specially-designed 'spongy' concrete mix was used with an increased air capacity.
The curved shell roof is made of 3,500 sq. m of trapezoidal glass panels and 3,043 stainless steel panels. Reaching a height of over 40 m, the shell roof is supported by four steel arches with a span of 80 m. The roof wraps in organic curves around the structures it contains, but does not touch them.
As well as rejuvenating the former industrial wasteland of the Tyne south bank, the building has received awards for its use of cutting-edge technology, structural design and acoustic engineering.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Blobitecture.
- Building of the week series.
- Centre Pompidou.
- Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.
- Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao.
- High-tech architecture.
- Kunsthaus Graz.
- London Design Museum.
- MAAT, Lisbon.
- Megastructure.
- National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing.
- Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum.
- Norman Foster.
- Rose Museum.
- Royal Albert Hall.
- Scottish Parliament Building.
- The Atomium.
- The Louvre.
- Titanic Belfast.
- Unusual building design of the week.
- Zenith de Strasbourg.
Featured articles and news
Listed despite problems with its design.
Zen and the art of cycling exploration.
Design Council Homes Taskforce launched
To support government 1.5 million homes target within UK climate commitments.
The story of this knowledge quarter building.
In ecology, in hydrology, in biology and in architecture.
Creating environments that promote physical, mental, and social well-being.
UK cases of neutral current diversion
Research project looks for example contributions.
Overstocking and macro-economics cause a decline.
The 2024 update of the Common Assessment Standard
Demonstrating organisational capability’ to fulfil roles under the Building Safety Act.
56 recommendations for a better built environment
Published by the CIC ahead of the King’s Speech.
SkillELECTRIC Top 8 Competitors Named
in annual search for the UK’s best student electrician.
CIOB Diversity and Inclusion technical information sheet
Step-by-step guide on implementing D and I practices.
Conservation and the Indian City. Book review.
Reversibility in conservation ethics
Learning from painting conservation.
Where It's AT Podcast launched!
New CIAT Architectural Technology Podcast goes live.