< Architecture

Wall Executive Building (WEB)

Set on the bank of the Tyne, across two politically and historically rich sites, the Wall Executive Building brings together the 400+ organisations which have power over the daily activities taking place along Hadrian’s Wall, into one, synonymous structure. The WEB integrates itself into the industrial landscape of the former Swan Hunter Ship Builders site in Wallsend, amongst a wider masterplan, the Segedunum Living Histories Complex. A modular construction, the building is flat-pack, housing modules designed to replicate the dimensions of a shipping container, for ease of transport, refurbishment, and reuse. Integrated into the SLHC, the building challenges Hadrian’s Wall through visual aesthetic and political engagement. Directly neighbouring the WEB, an active freeport removes restrictions and bounds from imports, and engages with the WEB in visual aesthetic using Stone to replicate the Wall in structure and dimension. Further challenging the power dynamic of Hadrian’s Wall, the building introduces reverse hierarchical power, and gives space for forgotten voices of the wall to appropriate and challenge decision makers.

Location:

Wall Executive Building,

Segedunum Living Histories Complex,

Wallsend

Project Type:

Community/Civic/Political/Modular

Materials:

CLT/Glulam/Steel/Concrete/Cor-TEN

Date:

2024

WEB, Perspective Section

Brief

As part of the Wallbeing studio, the brief for the WEB was to integrate a structure into the daily life of Hadrian’s wall, promoting wellbeing, on a site which historically was divisive and brutal. Our programmes had to respect the environment, the historical nature of the wall, and produce responses which accommodated the plethora of individuals which reside along the wall. My project in particular interrogated the site of Segedunum and the Swan Hunter Shipping Yard in Wallsend.

Mesh Screens reduce direct daylight into south facing offices.

Traditional build stone wall, replicating the carboniferous sandstone of Hadrian’s Wall. The dimensions of the entire structure are in direct proportion to Hadrian’s Wall.

Modular Construction. Where elements of the building promote ‘togetherness,’ it is celebrated by modules ‘jutting out’ of the central core, reaching into the surrounding environment and promoting wellbeing.

A Gantry Crane is installed at the nearby, newly proposed, Swan Hunter Freeport. This Gantry Crane is borrowed by the WEB for installation of the modular system.

A completely rewilded exterior to the WEB promotes nature to return to the coast of the Tyne within Wallsend, as well as providing a wellbeing space for the residents of Wallsend to enjoy.