Tyneside firm is key to largest urban farm bid
IT IS CHOSEN FOR VISITOR CENTRE WORK AFTER PAST SUCCESSES
A PLANNING application for what would be the UK’S largest urban farm and eco-park, with Tyneside architects playing a key part, has been submitted.
The bid for Oldham’s Northern Roots project has been submitted to Oldham Council, which, along with outline proposals for the 160-acre site, includes detailed design proposals for a visitor centre and learning centre from Newcastle-based JDDK Architects.
The practice has worked on a wide range of award-winning visitor centre projects across the UK which are similarly located in sensitive green-belt land and world heritage sites such as the Sill centre in Northumberland National Park, Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre in Nottingham and the RSPB’S Saltholme International Nature Reserve on Teesside.
The Sill, a multi-award winning £14.8m venture which opened in 2017 within the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site, was the biggest project undertaken in any of the country’s national parks.
JDDK project architect Alison Thornton-sykes said: “The Sill is inspired by The Great Whin Sill, Northumberland’s internationally renowned geological feature, and grows from the landscape that surrounds it.
“The wider view shows these dramatic geological outcrops as diagonal ripples in the landscape, and the building is developed as another ripple rising out of the landscape.”
Northern Roots is set in the heart of Oldham. In addition to protecting and enhancing habitats and biodiversity, the project aims to support the health and well-being of local communities.
The visitor centre has been designed to blend with the surrounding natural environment on a woodland edge.
Alison Thornton-sykes said: “One option was based on the transformation of a caterpillar from the cocoon stage to the emerging butterfly, while a second option showed a circular building and influences of spiral beehives and so we combined the two ideas.
“The transformation journey remains, symbolic of the wider transformation of the site from an industrial past to a green masterplan, with the butterfly roof rising from an elliptical shaped building surrounding a welcoming courtyard.
“The layout of the visitor centre is based around a central elliptical cloister leading into the reception area which flows into the retail space.
The cloister continues to provide access to toilets including a changing places facility, multi-use/learning space and interpretation space. From the reception the staircase and lift lead up to the cafe on the first floor which has elevated views across the meadow and to the landscape beyond.
“The cafe opens on to a terrace which connects to an amphitheatre which provides additional seating.”
The Learning Centre site sits in a woodland area and consists of a series of linked timber framed buildings on stilts to minimise impact on the ground and tree roots and well screened by the surrounding trees.
The Learning Centre will house a reception area, prayer and meditation space, classrooms, toilets and a bunkhouse.