2-64 with Attached Fences

The building comprises seven terraces of houses and flats constructed between 1978 and 1980 by Ralph Erskine’s Arkitektkontor, with Vernon Gracie acting as site architect, White, Young and Partners as structural engineers, and Fairclough Building Limited as the main contractor. The construction is of red brick in metric modular brick, with concrete block internal walls and Marley Modern tiled roofs. The design carefully follows the contours of the steeply sloping site and is angled to maximize views, with the flats forming the south-eastern end units. The sloping land is exploited to create split-level units, featuring kitchen windows at ground level on the north side. Black and white weatherboarding is applied to the north-west and south-east ends respectively; the south-east weatherboarding has been renewed in upvc and incorporates bird boxes on each gable. Projecting timber balconies are located at first floor level to the upper flats at the south end of the terraces (numbers 12-14, 28-30, and 46-48). First-floor flowerboxes punctuate the facades. Entrance fronts feature boldly coloured doors alongside triangular staircase windows, with narrow eaves windows above a projecting brown timber band carrying heating pipes. Projecting brown timber door hoods are suspended from the deep eaves; black sheds are located at the ends of terraces numbered 38-48. Windows are timber framed, with larger south-facing windows incorporating aluminium opening lights. The interiors have not been inspected.

This development represented the first of a new type of housing, designed by Erskine to take advantage of the steep slopes and views of the Carville Road area. Newcastle City Council requested the use of concrete tiles, resulting in the selection of Marley Modern tiles due to their suitability for the shallow roof pitches required. The council also specified brick and blockwork construction instead of predominantly timber. Erskine initially envisioned timber ends as a deterrent to vandalism but adapted the internal construction accordingly in January 1978. The palette of dark tones, contrasted with the black and white end walls and brightly painted doors, creates a visual contrast to the primary colours of the surrounding estate.

For historical context and further sources, refer to the records for Nos 1-75 Dunn Terrace.