Bank House, Pilgrim StreetSite Context

Historic context

Aerial view of site

Site ContextThe site is the eastern side of Pilgrim Street, on the southern corner plot formerly home to the Bank of England, now demolished to a podium level and fenced off as a vacant site. The original bank vaults and basement structures remain below the site, accessed from Carliol Square.

Pilgrim Street is a threshold between the high value, aspirational streetscapes of Grey Street and Grainger Town to the west and the disconnected and underdeveloped East Pilgrim Street city quarter to the east. A relatively steep change in level and poor connectivity caused by the introduction of the central motorway has led to the decline of this once vibrant and affl uent city quarter.

The site presents an excellent opportunity for signifi cant landmark development. On the axis of the Tyne Bridge, the site is a key gateway and arrival point to the city from the south. At ground level, there is a signifi cant opportunity to bring life back to an important historic street and to provide an appropriate and complementary setting to the listed buildings on the western side of the street.

The ground fl oor has the potential to connect Pilgrim Street to the planned public realm to the east, and beyond into the wider East Pilgrim Street area. At upper levels, the development has the opportunity to make a positive statement within the city skyline and to benefi t from outstanding views to the north, south and west across the citycentre and the Tyne Gorge.

Site constraints Site opportunities

1723 1831 1898 1967 2013

Gateway to the city

Boundary of conservation area

Listed buildings

Highway and public realm quality

Relationship to 55 degrees North

Bell’s Court

Existing Vaults

No.98 (Alderman Fenwick’s House)

Positive address to conservation area

Views

Tyne Bridge gateway

Public Realm

Catalyst for development

Pilgrim Street destination

Bank House, Pilgrim StreetDevelopment Principles

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Site plan showing potential future development

Site section showing potential future development

PlacemakingPilgrim Street requires substantial enhancement along its length to improve both the setting of the existing heritage assets and redevelopment. Strategies are in place to realign the junction with Swan House roundabout to improve traffi c calming measures and give the street more of a pedestrian focus. The material quality will also be improved to enhance the setting and tie into the development of a number of key sites along the street. Dialogue is ongoing with Newcastle City Council Highways team to ensure a cohesive and consistent approach to wider development.

As part of a phased development Bank House Square will follow the Bank House development. This has a wider role in placemaking, a new public space providing a setting for sustainable high quality buildings responding to the distinctive character of the site, with positive and meaningful public realm enhanced by quality materials and active frontages

Location plan

Plot B

Plot C

Plot C

Plot D

Plot E

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Worswick St

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Worswick Chambers

Bank House

Movement

Pedestrian movement

Vehicle (car park access)

Bus Loop

Placemaking and public realm

City gateway space

Plaza

Public square

Public realm and Pilgrim Street linking back into the heart of the city

Historic environment

Enhanced setting to listed buildings and conservation area

Sustainable new use of Worswick Chambers and 93-101 Pilgrim Street

Setting enhanced with high quality design and sensitive material palette

Consideration of setting and signifi cance in broader context

Key site strategies

Vistas

Channelling the view and controlling scale of space on the access to Pilgrim Street

Drawing the eye beyond Worswick Chambers

Positive corner to old bus station site on Worswick Street

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Bank House, Pilgrim StreetLandscape Masterplan

Landscape plan

Precedent images

MasterplanThe proposed paving pattern along Pilgrim Street refl ects the history of the burgage plots as well as responding to the vertical emphasis of the building structure. The changes in levels across the site are addressed by forming an entrance plaza at the main building entrance which gradually steps down to a lower plaza enjoying views to the Tyne Bridge and the south.

Terraced planters mediate the site levels, edged by low walls in granite with integrated timber seats. These elements enhance the setting of the building and create a positive public space increasing biodiversity across the site and contributing to site drainage by reducing surface water runoff.

An attractive linear paving pattern consistent with the building language sets the geometry for the terraces and planted areas and defi nes key areas of high quality public space.

Proposed Caitness paving

Proposed granite paving

Proposed granite bench

Proposed granite steps

Proposed temporary boundary treatment.Modular green wall with built in irrigation

Proposed ornamental planting

Proposed rain garden

Proposed evergreen hedge

Proposed trees within rain gardens

Proposed tree in planter

Proposed tree with tree grille

Proposed sedum roof

Legend

Bank House, Pilgrim StreetFloor Plans

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Basement plan

Typical offi ce fl oor plan

Ground fl oor plan

Design DriversThe brief is to deliver 12,000sqm over 12 levels of Grade A offi ce space aligned to BCO guidance. This targets key design drivers in terms of fl oor plate effi ciency, capacity metrics, natural daylight, ceiling heights and full height glazing. The fl oorplate layout gives high quality, column free space which has the fl exibility to be split into three separate tenancies.

The offi ce spaces are supported by a generous ground fl oor foyer and two commercial units for food and beverage.

1Target 80% NIA:GIA effi ciency

2Typical fl oor can accommodate up to three separate tenancies

3Natural daylighting to all offi ce

areas

4Capacity metrics (escape and

toilet provision) all as BCO guidance

5Floor-to-soffi t full height glazing

6Clear height 2750 (notional

ceiling zone)

7BREEAM Excellent

1 Foyer

2 Commercial unit 1

3 Commercial unit 2

4 WC’s

5 Lift and stair core

6 FM store/offi ce

7 Substation

8 Services lift

1 Plant

2 Male changing

3 Female changing

4 Drying Room

5 Lift and stair core

6 Cycle store

7 WC’s

8 Bin Store

9 Services lift

1 Offi ce fl oorplate

2 Female WC’s

3 Accessible WC’s

4 Lift and stair core

5 Male WC’s

Bank House, Pilgrim StreetNorth Elevation

North elevation

Elongated glazing proportions

Plinth typical bay study Typical bay study showing two fl oors to every bay Level 13 typical bay

Initial mass Primary vertical grid Articulation of top, middle and bottom proportions

Bank House Pilgrim Street55 Degrees North Bank House Square

Bank House, Pilgrim StreetWest Elevation

West elevation

Proposed massing Plot B Lobby Retail 1 Retail 2 55 Degrees North

Contextual elevation

The PearlNo. 22-38 Northumberland Street Vacant Sites

Commercial Union House

CarliolHouse

Former Central Police Station,

Magistrates Court and Fire Station

Worswick Chambers Bank House 55 Degrees North

Swan House Roundabout

Bridge House Cuthbert House

Bede House

Bank House, Pilgrim StreetSouth Elevation

Contextual elevation

Pilgrim Street Bank House Bank House Square

Grey Street

Kelburn House

No.1 Pilgrim Street

Bank House 55 Degrees NorthProposed massing Plot C

Pedestrian foot bridge

South elevation

Bank House, Pilgrim StreetEast Elevation

Contextual elevation

No. 100 Pilgrim Street Bank House Bells Court Proposed massing Plot B

East elevation

Cale Cross Multistorey carparkShelterNorth

Newcastle

Mosley St No.1 Bank House

Proposed massing Plot B

Nos. 46-56 Carliol HouseNHS Nos. 100-118

Former Central Police Station, Magistrates

Court and Fire Station

Market St

Commercial Union House

Bank House, Pilgrim StreetView North

Bank House, Pilgrim StreetStreetscape

StreetscapeThe development’s relationship and contribution to Pilgrim Street is a key aspect of our response. Ground fl oor use and accommodation provides a positive, active street frontage. The scale and composition of these spaces responds to the nature of the historic buildings on the western side of the street.

Setting the building line back from the street allows an arrival plaza to be created, responding to the building entrance and site levels, whilst providing a breakout for street facing activity. The human scale of this space offers an environment from which visitors are able to appreciate the surrounding historic context.

The original access across the site from east to west was provided by Bell’s Court. This route is incorporated through the public space, defi ned by a colonnade expressed in the new building façade and provides access to the planned public space beyond. The building foyer connects the public spaces to the east and west, offering the development an address to both Pilgrim Street and Bank House Square.

Pilgrim Street view looking south

Streetscape diagram

Mediating scaleActive ground fl oorPublic to private transition