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Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts

Ellis Williams Architects, Gateshead, 2001

 

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The east elevation showing the Teflon sail which moves to cut off light into the galleries 

Etienne Clement     Download Original

  • The east elevation showing the Teflon sail which moves to cut off light into the galleries    
  • The viewing box    
  •     
  • The ground floor cafeteria    
  • Ellis Williams    
  • The Millennium Bridge from level 3 terrace    
  • The tubular steel framework supports the restaurant while allowing sunlight into the gallery    
  • The slate wall extends to the outside    
  • Jaume Plensa    
  • Julian Opie    
  • Level 5 gallery presents Chris Burden    
  • The women    
  • Visitors were advised to bypass Carsten Hoeller    
  • Basement floor    
  • Ground floor    
  • First floor    
  • Second floor    
  • Third floor    
  • Sixth floor    
  • Short section    
  • Long section    
  • Detail drawing of structure    
  • Roof detail    

Renovation of a industrial flour silo on the banks of the River Tyne to create a six-storey art gallery

Only the south and north facades of the original industrial 1950s building were retained. A new structure consisting of six main floors and three mezzanines was secured between the facades to contain arts space (four galleries and a flexible performance space), artists' studios, cinema/lecture space, shop, library and archive for the study of contemporary art and the rooftop restaurant on level six.

The entire floor plan of the original building had comprised a honeycomb of flour silos – concrete boxes rising the full height of the building. Most have been stripped out but some have been retained to maintain authenticity and structural stability as well as to house full height services, stairwells and the biggest delivery lift in Europe.

An additional two-storey structure: The Riverside Building, was constructed to the west of the main building, providing the main entrance into BALTIC, which looks out across Baltic Square and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

Data

  • Begun: Sep 1999
  • Completed: Aug 2001
  • Floor area: 13,200m2
  • Sector: Arts and culture
  • Total cost: £36.6M
  • Tender date: Jul 1999
  • Procurement: JCT 98 with Contractors Design Supplement
  • Address: Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead, NE8 3BA, United Kingdom

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