1 - 33 Bamburgh Terrace, Byker Wall

Perimeter block of flats, continuing the line of Byker Crescent (q.v.). 1972-5 by Ralph Erskine's Arkitektkontor; site architect Vernon Gracie; structural engineer, White, Young and Partners; main contractor, Stanley Miller Ltd. Orange modular metric brick to Union Road, with pale brick facing estate, and banded end wall, on concrete block crosswalled frame which incorporates precast cantilevers for balconies and access galleries. Flat blue metal roofs. Three storeys, with access galleries incorporating planting boxes reached via stairs on perimeter east face, and balconies with splendid views to west. Brown timber access galleries with red-brown balustrading and plastic sheet roof to upper storeys, forms a two-storey frame on the eastern face of the block, complemented by timber staircase enclosure and blue timber fence and gate. The western elevation with balconies set in vertical pairs, save to flats 18, 29, and 20, and to flats 29, 30 and 31. Windows of timber in timber surrounds, with aluminium opening lights, mainly sliding. Red and blue glazed doors to eastern elevation, with red and yellow projecting kitchen ventilators. Some brown doors to garden on west elevation, and timber doors with glazed panel to balconies. Brown fences on this elevation. Interiors not inspected but understood not to be of special interest. Brick retaining wall to south an integral part of the composition. To the north pergola or car port, with sheet roofing on blue and brown timber frame, is an integral part of the design.

This forms part of the perimeter Byker 'wall', but faces east rather than north towards the intended motorway, and its very different character reflects its quieter setting. It is attached to Byker Crescent (q.v.) to the north.

The Byker area, first extensively developed in the 1890s, was earmarked for redevelopment from the late 1950s, with a new motorway to the north. In March 1967 the Housing Architect's Department proposed the building of a barrier block to shelter the area, and this idea was supported by Ralph Erskine, who was invited to develop the area for Newcastle Corporation in 1969. His Plan of Intent, published in 1970, promised a complete redevelopment programme of housing and landscaping with cost yardsticks, while maintaining the traditions and character of the neighbourhood, and to rehouse the residents without breaking family and social ties. His achievement in rehousing 40% of the original residents on the original site was exceptional, as were his methods of keeping the community informed of development and seeking their support and suggestions for the low-rise housing. In achieving these goals Erskine sought to exploit the south-facing sloping site, to develop a system of pedestrian routes through the estate and to provide a `specific "local" individuality to each group of houses.' The estate was redeveloped in a rolling programme of no more than 250 units at a time, to try to maintain the community's infrastructure. The idea was a sheltering perimeter block, which protects the estate from traffic noise and creates a micro climate, with low-rise housing in its lee. The modular metric facing brick of 290mm x 90mm x 65mm was developed by Crossley and Sons in County Durham, in collaboration with the City of Newcastle. When mortared, it forms a 12" by 4" by 3" unit. The inventiveness of the decoration, developed following the relatively muted `pilot scheme' at Janet Square, marks Byker out from other post-war housing for bringing the humane concepts of `romantic pragmatism' with its neo-vernacular details and materials to public housing in a unique way. It is probably also the greatest achievement of this important and idiosyncratic international architect. `If there is something marvellously lighthearted about the design, this I would say is the topographical keynote of the new Byker' (Architectural Design, June 1975, p.333).

Sources
Tyne and Wear Archives
Architectural Review, December 1974, pp.346-62
Mats Egelius, Ralph Erskine, Architect, Stockholm 1990, pp.148-60 LISTED GRADE 2*