New in the Ouseburn

Another milestone in the regeneration of Newcastle’s formerly industrial Ouseburn Valley is reached this week with the opening on 19 August of Seven Stories. GWK Architects of Newcastle have converted and extended a Victorian Granary into Britain’s first centre for the celebration of children’s books.

The Victorian brick building has been left largely intact but a striking new extension, modelled loosely on the pages of an open book, provides a dramatic entrance to the centre and a spiral staircase that accesses all levels. GWK Architects of Newcastle were selected after a national competition. The opening of Seven Stories brings to a conclusion a project first began by its founding directors Elizabeth Hammill and Mary Briggs in 1996. Their ambition was to make a collection of manuscripts, sketches, artwork and books documenting the work of contemporary British authors and illustrators for children.

GWK Architects, Newcastle upon Tyne

Posted By: Andrew Guest, 16th August 2005

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