Looking to the skies for next move

Apr 16 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

As construction of what will be the world’s tallest building, Dubai’s Burj Tower, continues to attract attention, Andy Roberts argues that there is a strong case for North East planners to take a fresh look at how allowing buildings above a certain height could benefit the region.

TALL buildings are a sign of confidence and optimism about the future, and this region has that in spades. Potential investors and visitors perceive height as a symbol of prestige and prosperity.

And, of course, they have great impact – who could fail to be moved by their first sight of the Manhattan skyline?

Apart from the aesthetic arguments, city-centre land prices and scarcity of sites also make tall buildings a very effective use of space, helping us to plan for growth and investment without swallowing up precious land.

They can also provide a sustainable solution, providing a density of accommodation while reducing the amount of secondary traffic flow.

While a region with such a strong heritage and as many listed buildings as Newcastle needs to protect its historic significance, a structure such as the £1bn, 72-storey Shard building in London can be every bit as architecturally striking as the sweep of Grey Street and, if sympathetically managed, the two design styles can live in harmony.

The siting and impact that a tall building would have on a location and its views is a major factor in managing the region’s developing skyline.

While the area around St James’s in Newcastle has been identified as suitable for tall developments, the ecologically and historically sensitive Tyne Gorge quite rightly requires careful consideration of scale and massing.

Without a more visionary approach to tall building height and design, there is a real chance that the North East could lose out to cities such as Manchester, which manages to retain its Victorian heritage while embracing modern architectural design.

Andy Roberts is managing director of _space architecture, based in Newcastle.