1-89, GORDON ROAD

The building comprises a line of five terraces of houses and flats constructed between 1972 and 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. The initial section, numbers 1-89, was designed in 1972-5 by Ralph Erskine’s Arkitektkontor, with Vernon Gracie acting as site architect, White, Young and Partners as structural engineers, and Stanley Miller Ltd as the main contractor. Numbers 61-89 were subsequently completed in 1978-9 by Ralph Erskine’s Arkitektkontor, with Shepherd Construction acting as the main contractor.

The building is constructed of pale metric modular brick on a timber frame, with vertical brown cladding to numbers 65-83, 39-57, 17-39, and 3-13. These sections feature projecting timber-clad porches, and a contrasting red-brown band above the first floor which runs across all units. The roofs are flat, with projecting eaves and downpipes. Numbers 85-89 are three storeys high, with a timber eaves line, long, narrow strip windows to the second floor, and deep living room windows on the first floor. All windows are timber-framed with timber surrounds and aluminium sliding opening lights. Timber doors have glazed panels, many of which have been renewed in hardwood. Large timber downpipes incorporate bird boxes to numbers 61-63. Brick walls and steps are present at numbers 81-83, accompanied by a timber entrance pergola, and granite kerbs. The interiors have not been inspected.

The design reflected the elderly age profile of the Byker area during redevelopment in the early 1970s. Some units in the Kendal Street area were designed as two flats, capable of adaptation to houses to meet potential demand for family accommodation; this is evident in the number of units located at the ends or alongside the ends of the terraces.

Historical and source information is available under Nos 1-75 Dunn Terrace.