Students at the School of Design at Northumbria University were again tasked this year with creating new and original consumer products using cork.
Led by Assistant Professor Rickard Whittingham, two students found their inspirations in the local architecture and culture of Tyneside.
In the first of two articles, we look at three new planter designs by Megan Shaw made from cork material that take their shape from some of the unique architecture in Newcastle.
3 Planter Designs
Megan Shaw
During the 1960s, policymakers, planners and architects had the highest aspirations for Newcastle and the North East of England.
Between the 1960’s and 70’s Brutalist architecture emerged as a unique style in the North as a response to the ornate and decorative pre-war designs.
This didn’t mean that brutalist structures were devoid of visual interest; rather, the interest came from the interplay of forms, textures, and the careful incorporation of contrasting elements.
The Byker viaduct is a familiar feature…
…The Civic Centre is a central landmark…
…The Pearl was built in the 1960’s.
The Byker Viaduct is a familiar feature of the Tyneside skyline. Opened 40 years ago as an integral part of the Tyne & Wear Metro system, the viaduct is 800 metres long , and at its highest point is 70 metres above the ground. A pioneering construction method was used to build it – the first such structure in the country to be built using cantilevered concrete sections with glued joints.
The Civic Centre, is a central landmark in the heart of the regional capital and a Grade II* listed building, known for its modernist architecture, which was formally opened by King Olav V of Norway in 1968.
The Pearl was built in the 1960’s on Newcastle Upon Tyne’s prime retail street specifically for the Pearl Assurance Company. An eight-storey tower sits on top of a two-storey plinth.
Inspired by (from L to R) The Byker viaduct, Newcastle Civic Centre and the Pearl building. Each planter captures some of the finer details of these buildings and is laser etched with the building’s coordinates.
You can view a video of Megan’s project here.
You can explore more of the Northumbria Uni Design School students’ work at https://hosting.northumbria.ac.uk/northumbriadesign/.
#CorkDesign #NorthumbriaDesign #BrutalistInspiration
