SCALA Civic Building of the Year Competition, 2005
Winner
Gateshead Council
Saltwell Tower
The Grade 2 listed building Saltwell Towers was built in 1860 by stained glass entrepreneur William Wailes as the centrepiece of Saltwell Park. Until the 1950s it was used as a museum, and then fell into disrepair leaving only three unstable external walls.
The park and building restoration was funded by a grant from the HLF. The proposals were the subject of extensive consultation with HLF itself, the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust, North East Civic Trust, English Heritage, The National Trust,
The Garden History Society, Northumbria Gardens Trust and Tyne and Wear Specialist Conservation Team.
The whole of the original interior to the building had fallen in leaving nothing to conserve. Therefore whilst the exterior was restored the interior is designed as a community facility and contrasts with the exterior.
A modern insertion has been formed including a café at ground floor level, and an interactive exhibition area at first floor. A modern façade replaces the collapsed East elevation and refers to the original materials.
Ancillary facilities for Park management staff are tucked into the east of the building, and the public areas are open as possible to give an appreciation the volume of the space and to allow visitors to appreciate the various original windows and the views that they provide.
To give it prominence the building had a small footprint compared to its height. In order to emphasise this the new stairs are positioned in the centre with a curving, glazed screen to express the height of the building. An artist was commissioned to provide decorated glass for the screen.
Architects:Luke Gardner
Architectural Assistant:John Paget
Quantity Surveyor:Ian Willey
Structural Engineer:Colin Reed
Mechanical Engineer:Terry Edwards
Electrical Engineer:Andrew Smith
Landscape Architect:Crawford Burton
