The Sage Gateshead was designed to fill a major gap on the musical map of Britain. Before its construction, the North East was the only region in the country without access to first class music facilities, the nearest being a six hour round trip away to either Scotland, Manchester, Birmingham or London.

 

Competition

 

In 1997, a competition was launched to select the designers for a new world-class concert hall and music centre.

• There were over 100 registrations of interest
• Six teams were shortlisted
  and interviewed

Foster and Partners, the acclaimed architectural practice headed by Norman Foster, were appointed in 1997 as the unanimous choice of the interviewing panel and their advisers. International practice Arup Acoustics were chosen as the project acousticians.

 

Winning Design

The resulting design, a radically modern £70 million performing arts centre, opened to the public on the 17th of December 2004.

With its dramatic undulating roof, The Sage Gateshead perches high above the River Tyne, enjoying spectacular views towards Newcastle.

It forms the centrepiece of the regenerated Gateshead Quays area, providing an international standard of excellence in performing and teaching facilities, whilst being fully inclusive and accessible for all.

The stainless steel roof encloses:

• Three separate performance spaces
• Music Education Centre
• The Sir Michael Straker Café
• Four bars, a brasserie and a public concourse

Its shape partly inspired by the familiar arch of the Tyne Bridge.

 

Public Concourse

 

The covered concourse, with its magnificent panoramic views is the public focus of the building. This is a major new internal public space, an 'urban living room', open fourteen hours a day, with cafes, bars and ticket office.

It also forms part of a major pedestrian route linking the Swing Bridge with the new Gateshead Millennium Bridge as part of the principal pedestrian route between Gateshead and Newcastle.

 

Environmental Design

 

The building was designed with environmental issues in mind and its aerodynamic form channels the predominant local winds to provide natural ventilation.

Also, due to its orientation, there is no artificial cooling required in the large concourse.

In addition, the solid concrete and masonry parts of the structure act as thermal storage, providing radiant heat to the concourse space.

The Sage Gateshead addresses the nature of public space and the concept of the democratic, accessible 'urban living room'. All these diverse functions are combined in one space, encouraging interaction between performers, students and the public, thus breaking down cultural and creative barriers.

Its purpose is as revolutionary as its design.