Minimal

Phoenix from the flames

On the 5th September 2000, someone set fire to Cale Cross House in Newcastle. Sat at the North end of the Tyne Bridge, Cale Cross was one of the tallest office blocks in the city. It was also one of the least architecturally inspiring, being little more than a 17-floor square, black peg rising up from the quayside.

For nearly 2 years after the fire, the building sat empty, all of its previous occupants long since chucked out due to the offices being badly smoke damaged. Last year though, the building’s owners took it upon themselves to renovate the place, just as had recently been tried with the still-hideous Cuthbert House. Up went the scaffolding, up went the protective plastic sheeting around it, and off came the black metal cladding to a deafening soundtrack of angle-grinders. Rumour had it that the building was merely being re-clad in fresh shiny metal and I have to say, I really thought they were trying to polish a turd.

6 months later, the upper floors are now beginning to emerge from behind the plastic curtains and I’m stunned. It actually looks quite good. Same structure, same shape, same windows, but with shiny silver and turquoise cladding. It must’ve taken a brave architect / designer to suggest the change, but it looks like it might just work. Wonders may never cease. :)