7 Druce Road, London, SE21 7DW
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New bandstand for Walkergate development
Durham - first prize
In October 2004 the practice won an invited competition to design a new bandstand for the proposed Walkergate development in the city of Durham. Walkergate is a proposed mixed-use development that will occupy the site between the river Wear and the Gala Theatre complex in the heart of the city. It is hoped that the bandstand will be used by a diverse range of performers as well the many brass bands in the area. The design has been generated out of the key elements of the brief, stage, ramp and roof. An exercise was undertaken to find a form that could embody these functions in a simple fluid way. Paper models were used as a rapid means of testing shapes. A folded leaf form emerged with each side of the leaf respectively forming the deck and roof, with a tapering section forming a ramp.