Northumbria University student work installed at Gibside

A new contemporary structure based on a design by a Northumbria University Interior Architecture student has been installed in the National Trust’s Gibside in Tyne and Wear.

The Pavilion, created by student Allard Newell in collaboration with design studio Jardine Couture, can be found in the walled garden and is a temporary exhibition space for interpretive displays offering seating and framed views of the garden.

Deborah Hunter-Knight, Walled Garden Project Officer at Gibside, said: “Allard’s Pavilion design is a superb addition to the walled garden, taking inspiration from the tree-lined avenue that connects the chapel to the Liberty Column.

“The installation marks the culmination of a two-year project with 18 students from Northumbria University BA (Hons) Interior Architecture course. As a conservation charity, the National Trust relies on successful partnerships such as this one with Northumbria University, alongside vital funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to enable projects like this to become a reality.

“It has offered a unique experience for the students to design a structure, one of which was selected, and has now been built. Thank you to everyone who has been involved, I’m extremely proud to have been a part of it.”

Ben Couture, from the company that reinterpreted and created the new design based on the original concept, worked closely with Allard to develop his idea and produce a contemporary, flexible ‘outdoor gallery’. 

Student Allard Newall said: “Having my design proposal selected by a respected organisation such as the National Trust is an amazing accomplishment. It’s one thing getting good feedback at university, but seeing one of your designs become reality is a very satisfying and humbling feeling.

“The experience I have gained through working alongside the National Trust and the appointed design consultancy Jardine Couture has been an unbelievable opportunity. Not only has it helped with my studies, it has allowed me to gain experience of working on a project and seeing the design process from concept, to delivery. To finally see the piece in the walled garden really puts the opportunity it has presented to me into perspective.”

Built with timber and slender steel, the Pavilion will house a changing exhibition display as well as offer visitors seating and framed views of the garden.

Peter Dixon, Senior Lecturer in Northumbria’s Department of Architecture and the Built Environment, said: “The opportunity to work on a live project of this kind is of huge benefit to the students. They have been able to see the scheme through from start to finish, from carrying out initial site visits and meetings with the client, to coming up with their individual designs and then presenting these to the client and public for feedback.

“The collaboration with Jardine Couture has also been a fantastic experience for them – it’s not often students have the opportunity to be involved all the way through a project, from conception to realisation, and seeing how the design has been translated into the finished product has been a great opportunity and provided a truly unique insight into the Design and Production process as part of their studies.

“We’re sure the Pavilion will prove a popular addition to the walled garden at Gibside and hope that our partnership with the National Trust continues so future students can also benefit from experiences and projects such as this.”

The Pavilion is part of Gibside Walled Garden: Redesign Renew Revive, a two-year National Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund initiative that aims to encourage new ways of seeing and learning about the history of Gibside estate.

Details of the project were also displayed at the Graduate Interior Educators’ Free Range exhibition in London last week, where Northumbria exhibited work by its final year Interior Architecture and Interior Design students.

To find out more about studying Architecture and Interior Architecture at Northumbria go to: www.northumbria.ac.uk/architecture or sign up for an Open Day at www.northumbria.ac.uk/opendays.

Gibside opening times are 10am – 6pm and normal admission charges apply (free entry to National Trust members). To keep up to date with what’s happening at Gibside visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.