The Glasshouse, Gateshead

Last updated

The Glasshouse
Tyneview.jpg
The venue, viewed from the River Tyne
The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Full nameThe Glasshouse International Centre for Music
Former namesThe Sage Gateshead, Sage Gateshead
Location Gateshead Quayside, United Kingdom
Coordinates 54°58′04″N1°36′07″W / 54.9677°N 1.6020°W / 54.9677; -1.6020
TypeConcert venue, centre for musical education
Capacity 1,640 (Sage One)
600 (Sage Two)
2,240 (Total)
Construction
Opened17 December 2004
Construction cost£70 million
Website
theglasshouseicm.org

The Glasshouse is an international centre for musical education and concerts on the Gateshead bank of Quayside in northern England. Opened in 2004 as Sage Gateshead and occupied by North Music Trust [1] The venue's original name honours a patron: the accountancy software company The Sage Group.

Contents

History

Planning for the centre began in the early 1990s, when the orchestra of Sage Gateshead, Royal Northern Sinfonia, with encouragement from Northern Arts, began working on plans for a new concert hall. They were soon joined by regional folk music development agency Folkworks, [2] which ensured that the needs of the region's traditional music were taken into consideration and represented in Sage Gateshead's programme of concerts, alongside Rock, Pop, Dance, Hip Hop, classical, jazz, acoustic, indie, country and world, [3] Practice spaces for professional musicians, students and amateurs were an important part of the provision. [2] [3]

The planning and construction process cost over £70 million, which was raised primarily through National Lottery grants. The contractor was Laing O'Rourke. [4] The centre has a range of patrons, notably Sage Group which contributed a large sum of money to have the building named after it. Sage plc has helped support the charitable activities of Sage Gateshead since its conception. The venue opened over the weekend 17–19 December 2004. [5]

Sage Gateshead was developed by Foster and Partners following an architectural design competition launched in 1997 and managed by RIBA Competitions. Over 100 architects registered their interest and 12 – a mixture of local, national and international talent – were invited to prepare concept designs. A shortlist of six was then interviewed with Foster and Partners unanimously selected as the winner. The Design has gone on to win a number of awards: the RIBA Inclusive Design Award, Civic Trust Award [6] and The Journal North East Landmark of the Year Award. [7]

As a conference venue, the building hosted the Labour Party's Spring conference in February 2005 [8] and the Liberal Democrat Party conference in March 2012. [9] On 18 August 2009, Sage Gateshead was selected to host the 2010 and 2011 National Union of Students annual conference. [10] The 2010 Annual Conference took place 13–15 April 2010. [11] It also hosts accessible learning courses for all ages and its constant interaction with local schools and academies through programmes such as Sing Up and the option of school visits. [12]

In 2022 The Sage Group announced that they were also sponsoring a new development that is being built next to Sage Gateshead which will be called The Sage . Sage Gateshead announced that they will be finding a new name for the venue prior to The Sage opening in 2024. [13] On 13 September 2023 the venue announced its new name, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music. [14]

Building

Former logo prior to name change Sage-gateshead logo.svg
Former logo prior to name change

The centre occupies a curved glass and stainless steel building designed by Foster and Partners, Buro Happold (structural engineering), Mott MacDonald (engineering consultants) and Arup (acoustics), with views of Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides, the Tyne Bridge and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. [15]

The Glasshouse contains three performance spaces; a 1,700-seater, a 450-seater, and a smaller rehearsal and performance hall, the Northern Rock Foundation Hall. The rest of the building was designed around these three spaces to allow for maximum attention to detail in their acoustic properties. Structurally it is three separate buildings, insulated from each other to prevent noise and vibration travelling between them. The gaps between them may be seen as one walks around inside. A special 'spongy' concrete mix was used in the construction, with a higher-than-usual air capacity to improve the acoustic. [2] These three buildings are enclosed (but not touched) by the now-famous glass and steel shell. Sage One was intended as an acoustically perfect space, modelled on the Musikverein in Vienna. [16] Its ceiling panels may be raised and lowered and curtains drawn across the ribbed wooden side walls, changing the sound profile of the room to suit any type of music. [17] Sage Two is a smaller venue, possibly the world's only ten-sided performance space. [2]

The building is open to the public throughout the day. [18]

Concerts

The Glasshouse hosts concerts from a wide range of internationally famous artists, and those who have played at the venue include Above and Beyond, Blondie, James Brown, Bonobo, Andy Cutting, De La Soul, Nick Cave, George Clinton, Bill Callahan, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Dillinger, Grace Jones, Gretchen Peters, Elbow, Explosions in the Sky, the Fall, Herbie Hancock, Mogwai, Morrissey, Mumford & Sons, Pet Shop Boys, Sunn O))), Nancy Sinatra, Snarky Puppy, Sting, Yellowman, Shane Filan of Westlife and others. In February 2015, it was one of the hosts of the second annual BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.

It is also home to Royal Northern Sinfonia, of which The Guardian wrote there is "no better chamber orchestra in Britain", [19] and frequently hosts other visiting orchestras from around the world. The current music director for Royal Northern Sinfonia is the pianist and conductor Lars Vogt. In late 2014, Royal Northern Sinfonia collaborated with John Grant, performing at Sage Gateshead, and other venues throughout the UK. Recordings from this tour were made available as a limited edition CD and 12" record via Rough Trade Records in 2015.

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle upon Tyne</span> City in England

Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located on the River Tyne's northern bank opposite Gateshead to the south. It is the most populous settlement in the Tyneside conurbation and North East England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gateshead</span> Town in Tyne and Wear, England

Gateshead is a town in the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank. The town's attractions include the twenty metre tall Angel of the North sculpture on the town's southern outskirts, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. The town shares the Millennium Bridge, Tyne Bridge and multiple other bridges with Newcastle upon Tyne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyne Bridge</span> Bridge in north east England

The Tyne Bridge is a through arch bridge over the River Tyne in North East England, linking Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead. The bridge was designed by the engineering firm Mott, Hay and Anderson, who later designed the Forth Road Bridge, and was built by Dorman Long and Co. of Middlesbrough. The bridge was officially opened on 10 October 1928 by King George V and has since become a defining symbol of Tyneside. It is ranked as the tenth tallest structure in Newcastle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gateshead Millennium Bridge</span> Pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge between Newcastle and Gateshead spanning the River Tyne

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge spanning the River Tyne between Gateshead arts quarter on the south bank and Newcastle upon Tyne's Quayside area on the north bank. It was the first tilting bridge ever to be constructed. Opened for public use in 2001, the award-winning structure was conceived and designed by architectural practice WilkinsonEyre and structural engineering firm Gifford. The bridge is sometimes called the 'Blinking Eye Bridge' or the 'Winking Eye Bridge' due to its shape and its tilting method. The Millennium Bridge stands as the twentieth tallest structure in the city, and is shorter in stature than the neighbouring Tyne Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead</span> Metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England

The Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead is a metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, England. It includes Gateshead, Rowlands Gill, Whickham, Blaydon, Ryton, Felling, Birtley, Pelaw, Dunston and Low Fell. The borough forms part of the Tyneside conurbation, centred on Newcastle upon Tyne. At the 2021 census, the borough had a population of 196,154.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sage Group</span> British multinational enterprise accounting software company

The Sage Group plc, commonly known as Sage, is a British multinational enterprise software company based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. As of 2017, it is the UK's second largest technology company, the world's third-largest supplier of enterprise resource planning software, the largest supplier to small businesses, and has 6.1 million customers worldwide. It has offices in 23 countries. The company is a patron of The Glasshouse, Gateshead music venue in Gateshead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art</span> Art gallery in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is a centre for contemporary art located on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. It hosts a frequently changing variety of exhibitions, events, and educational programmes with no permanent exhibition. The idea to open a centre for contemporary arts in Gateshead was developed in the 1990s, which was a time of regeneration for the local area—the Sage and Gateshead Millennium Bridge was also being conceived of in this period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gateshead International Stadium</span> Arena in Felling, Tyne and Wear, England

Gateshead International Stadium (GIS) is a multi-purpose, all-seater venue in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. Originally known as the Gateshead Youth Stadium, the venue was built in 1955 at a cost of £30,000. It has since been extensively re-developed on three occasions. Its capacity of around 11,800 is the greatest in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, the third-largest in Tyne and Wear, and the sixth-largest in North East England.

Foster and Partners is a British international architecture firm based in London, England, founded in 1967 by Sir Norman Foster. Foster and Partners has designed many iconic buildings and structures around the world, including the Gherkin in London, the 1990s renovation of the Reichstag in Berlin, the Hearst Tower in New York City, the Hong Kong International Airport, and the Millau Viaduct in France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle Arena</span> Multi-purpose indoor arena in England

The Utilita Arena Newcastle is a large indoor arena in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Owned and operated by ASM Global and sponsored by Utilita Energy, it hosts music, entertainment, sports and business events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Newcastle upon Tyne</span> Development of a city in North East England

The history of Newcastle upon Tyne dates back almost 2,000 years, during which it has been controlled by the Romans, the Angles and the Norsemen amongst others. Newcastle upon Tyne was originally known by its Roman name Pons Aelius. The name "Newcastle" has been used since the Norman conquest of England. Due to its prime location on the River Tyne, the town developed greatly during the Middle Ages and it was to play a major role in the Industrial Revolution, being granted city status in 1882. Today, the city is a major retail, commercial and cultural centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quayside</span> Area in Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead, England

The Quayside is an area along the banks (quay) of the River Tyne in Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, North East England, United Kingdom.

Spencer Thomas de Grey, is a British architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Northern Sinfonia</span> British chamber orchestra

Royal Northern Sinfonia is a British chamber orchestra, founded in Newcastle upon Tyne and currently based in Gateshead. For the first 46 years of its history the orchestra gave most of its concerts at the Newcastle City Hall. It also gave monthly concerts in Middlesbrough town hall and at Stockton & Billingham Technical College in Billingham. Since 2004 the orchestra has been resident at Sage Gateshead. In June 2013 Queen Elizabeth II bestowed the title 'Royal' on the orchestra, formally naming it Royal Northern Sinfonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Wilkinson (architect)</span> British architect (1945–2021)

Christopher John Wilkinson was a British architect and co-founder of the architecture firm WilkinsonEyre. He was known for his techno-centric designs and execution of projects ranging from office spaces, factory floors, skyscrapers to botanical gardens. Some of his projects included the Magna Science Adventure Centre, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Guangzhou International Finance Center, and the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle City Centre</span> City centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Newcastle City Centre is the city centre district of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the historical heart of the city and serves as the main cultural and commercial centre of the North East England region. The city centre forms the core of the Tyneside conurbation.

Speirs Major is a UK lighting design practice founded by Jonathan Speirs (1958-2012) and Mark Major in 1993. The practice is noted for its illumination of many prominent buildings, including Barajas International Airport, 30 St Mary Axe, the Millennium Dome and the interior of St. Pauls Cathedral. The firm has also developed lighting master plans for several British cities, including Cambridge, Coventry, Durham, Newcastle, and for major private developments including Greenwich Peninsula and King’s Cross Central, London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sage</span> Planned development in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

The Sage is a forthcoming indoor arena and conference centre in Gateshead, United Kingdom due to open in phases between 2025 and 2027. The site is located between The Glasshouse and BALTIC centres on Gateshead Quayside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Farrell (architect)</span> British architect

Sir Terence Farrell, known as Terry Farrell, is a British architect and urban designer. In 1980, after working for 15 years in partnership with Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, Farrell founded his own firm, Farrells. He established his reputation with three completed projects in London in the late 1980s: Embankment Place, 125 London Wall aka Alban Gate and SIS Building aka Vauxhall Cross.

Michael Hall was a violist, conductor, lecturer, broadcaster, musicologist, and writer.

References

  1. ↑ "About the register of charities". Register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Welcome to Sage Gateshead". thesagegateshead.org. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Sage Gateshead: Introduction". Sage Gateshead website. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "Projects - Mott MacDonald". Mottmac.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "BBC NEWS - England - Tyne - Visitors grab chance to view Sage". news.bbc.co.uk. 18 December 2004. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  6. ↑ "Civic Trust Award". Fosterandpartners.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Journal North East Landmark of the Year Award". Thejournal.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "BBC NEWS - England - Tyne - Region boosts business reputation". BBC. 8 February 2005. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  9. ↑ [ dead link ]
  10. ↑ "NUS moves annual conference to North East". Conference & Incentive Travel. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  11. ↑ "NUS Events". NUS Officer Online. Archived from the original on 20 February 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  12. ↑ "School Visits at the Sage Gateshead". Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  13. ↑ Shakespeare, Austen (27 May 2022). "'No Sagey McSageface': Sage Gateshead to announce new name by September". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Sage Gateshead renamed Glasshouse International Centre for Music". BBC News. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  15. ↑ "Sage Gateshead". Foster and Partners. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  16. ↑ "Another day, another breathtaking creation from Norman Foster - This Britain, UK". The Independent on Sunday. London. 17 December 2004. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  17. ↑ "Sound Space Design: S A G E project". Sound Space Design. Archived from the original on 6 October 2006. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  18. ↑ "Sage Gateshead". Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  19. ↑ 'Royal Northern Sinfonia/ Zehettmair review' Andrew Clements, The Guardian, 20 October 2013
  20. ↑ "Sage Gateshead". architecture.com. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.