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
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.
CIOB Construction Manager of the Year 2025
Just one of the winners at the CIOB Awards 2025.
Call for independent National Grenfell oversight mechanism
MHCLG share findings of Building Safety Inquiry in letter to Secretary of State and Minister for Building Safety.
The Architectural Technology Awards
AT Awards now open for this the sixth decade of CIAT.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson awards
Deadline for submissions Friday 30 May 2025.
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.
Construction Products Reform Green Paper and Consultation
Still time to respond as consultation closes on 21 May 2025.
Resilient façade systems for smog reduction in Shanghai
A technical approach using computer simulation and analysis of solar radiation, wind patterns, and ventilation.