North Bank

The conservation area setting required a careful and sensitive approach, and so the design reinterprets elements of Northumberland’s historic agricultural barns and dwellings, many of which were thatched with local heather – this required a steeply pitched roof which can still be seen on some local buildings.

The design pays homage to this, creating an elegantly proportioned roof, utilised internally to create a dramatic living space which is lofty, but with a softness reminiscent of a humble rural chapel or community hall. The building sits close to the road and is orientated to make the most of the site whilst allowing the same views to the neighbours and passers-by. Climate and context were key considerations in the design, with the terrace positioned to provide an element of shelter.

The design draws the eye to the wonderful views, whilst maintaining privacy with its neighbours, and internally views are carefully framed rather than overly expansive, offering a feeling of protection and privacy. The building form points towards the river Tyne and the zinc smelt works of the Pennines, with the smelting flue at Langley visible on the horizon. The area was once one of the world’s largest exporters of the material, and this historical connection influenced the use of zinc on the roof, used in its natural, unfinished state.

The materials create a lightness to the design, and when seen from the south, the distinctive gable floats in the trees as the ground sharply falls away. Although different to its neighbours, the design is rooted in the local physical and historic context and has been sensitively designed to embody the spirit of its place.

Annual CO2 emissions data (requested in kg/m2/year) was provided as follows: 1.08 t/year (please note this is an estimate)