In this series, we're taking a closer look at some of the local landmarks that have been designed and built in the North East by NBS customers using NBS software.
Maggie’s Newcastle provides social, emotional and practical support to people with cancer, their families and friends in a calm environment surrounded by nature. Maggie’s Newcastle began with an invitation from Charles Jencks to Ted Cullinan to design a Maggie’s Centre for the North East.In what was a non-descript hospital car park, there is now an elegant, intriguing building nestled into the natural environment
A new landscape has been created that responds to the changing light, trees and plants of each season. Maggie’s is surrounded by earth mounds that form a south-facing courtyard planted with wild flowers and herbs which visitors can enjoy while feeling protected and enclosed. A roof garden with a Bowling Green and fixed exercise equipment is reached from within the building or by steps from the grassy bank. A clipped beech hedge provides privacy.
The building is arranged around an L-shaped plan. The two wings of accommodation meet at a double-height library. A staircase that doubles as bookshelves, leads up to a mezzanine level with access to the roof.
Six thousand people visited Maggie’s Newcastle within five months of opening something that was unprecedented in Maggie’s history. Much of its success is down to extensive consultation with the community during the early design stages. Men had made up a smaller percentage of visitors to other Maggie’s Centres, so encouraging them to feel included was an important part of the brief. The design of Maggie’s Newcastle including robust materials such as concrete, steel and oak, and gym equipment on the roof appears to have been successful: more men have visited Maggie’s Newcastle than any other Maggie’s.
Navigate the 3D model of the Maggies Newcastle building using the interactive display above
(3D technology powered by Autodesk Forge)
Maggie’s Newcastle would not have got off the ground without public support, as a registered charity, Maggie’s relies on fundraising events and contributions. The architects, Cullinan Studio, played their part and provided models and drawings for fundraising events, and also joined thousands of others in the annual Maggie’s Culture Crawl – or Maggie’s Night Hike.
Maggie’s Newcastle was conceived as emerging from the ground so the earth becomes part of the construction. The earth contains the ground floor of the building. The concrete frame and footings combine to resist the inward thrust of the battered banks and support the roof which in turn provides a container for the earth from which the new garden grows.
These two elements – earth retaining and earth containing – are designed as two separate structural systems. The base is formed from a 300mm thick reinforced concrete frame, with infill concrete walls cast flush within the frame and left internally with a smooth finish.
In summer, the high thermal mass reduces temperature swings, and windows open for night time cooling. The building is naturally ventilated and windows can be opened manually making it easy and simple for people to control their environment.