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Coordinates: 54°57′46″N 1°36′08″W / 54.9627°N 1.6022°W / 54.9627; -1.6022
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{{Short description|Shopping quarter in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England}}
[[Image:Get Carter carpark.jpg|250px|thumb|Trinity Square car park seen from [[Newcastle Castle Keep]]]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
[[File:Stainless Steel sculpture, Trinity Square, Gateshead. (21008578901).jpg|250px|thumb|Sculpture in the square's centre]]
⚫
'''Trinity Square''' is a shopping and leisure centre in [[Gateshead]], [[Tyne and Wear]], England. The new centre was constructed on the site of former multi-storey car park and shopping complex going by the same name, which originally opened in 1967.


⚫
The former Trinity Square was noted for its [[Brutalist architecture|Brutalist]] architecture produced by [[Rodney Gordon]] when he worked for the [[Owen Luder]] Partnership. The car park had a prominent role in the [[1971 in film|1971]] film ''[[Get Carter]],'' so is commonly referred to as the Get Carter car park. The demolition of the car park structure itself started on 26 July 2010 and was complete by early October of the same year. The shopping centre opened in 2013.
'''Trinity Square''' is a shopping and leisure centre situated in [[Gateshead]], [[North East England]]. [[Spenhill Developments]], a division of [[Tesco|Tesco PLC]].<ref>[http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2010/07/16/tesco-unveils-150m-gateshead-town-centre-scheme Tesco unveils £150m Gateshead Town Centre Scheme] in ''Construction Enquirer'', 26 July 2010</ref><ref>http://news.aol.co.uk/environment-news/get-carter-car-park-demolished/article/2010072610221174534217</ref> began work on the site in 2010 and opened the multi-use scheme in 2013.

⚫
The new centre was constructed on the site of former multi-story car park and shopping complex going by the same name, which originally opened in 1967.

⚫
The former Trinity Square was noted for its [[Brutalist architecture|Brutalist]] architecture produced by [[Rodney Gordon]] when he worked for the [[Owen Luder]] Partnership. The car park had a prominent role in the [[1971 in film|1971]] film ''[[Get Carter]],'' so is commonly referred to as the "Get Carter car park". The demolition of the car park structure itself started on 26 July 2010 and was complete by early October of the same year.

A contemporary public square was constructed and completed with an impressive 27ft sculpture, "Halo", by artist Stephen Newby.

Trinity Square is now home to one of the largest Tesco extra stores in the country, a nine screen fully digital [[Vue Cinemas|Vue]] cinema, Health Centre, office accommodation, and [[Northumbria University]] student accommodation, and also includes a mixture of independent and national establishments.

Trinity Square was nominated for the 2014 [[Carbuncle Cup]] for the ugliest building of the previous 12 months.<ref name="BD">bdonline.co.uk: [http://www.bdonline.co.uk/buildings/carbuncle-cup The Carbuncle Cup award for the worst new building], accessdate: 24/08/2014</ref>


==Construction==
==Construction==
The [[car park]] was designed in 1962 by the [[Owen Luder]] Partnership when [[Brutalism]] was regarded as the cutting edge of architecture, but by the time that it opened in 1967, interest in the movement had begun to decline. The building's raw concrete weathered poorly, and by the time ''Get Carter'' was filmed in 1970 the car park had already become patchy.
The [[car park]] was designed in 1962 by the [[Owen Luder]] Partnership when [[Brutalism]] was regarded as the cutting edge of architecture, but by the time that it opened in 1967, interest in the movement had begun to decline. The building's raw concrete weathered poorly, and by the time ''Get Carter'' was filmed in 1970 the car park had already become patchy.


The [[Multi-storey car park]] had seven tiers of parking decks. These were raised above the adjoining shopping centre by a "forest" of [[piloti]] columns. The decks on the north face had a slight curve creating a wave effect. There were two supporting towers containing stair and lift access. Each level of car park was therefore uninterrupted, so that when viewed from a distance the sky was visible through the structure. A cafe unit in a contrasting box structure sat above the top tier of the car park connected to the access towers by an expressed glazed 'bridge' and an open walkway. The cafe had large windows providing views across the [[River Tyne|Tyne Valley]].
The [[multi-storey car park]] had seven tiers of parking decks. These were raised above the adjoining shopping centre by a "forest" of [[piloti]] columns. The decks on the north face had a slight curve creating a wave effect. There were two supporting towers containing stair and lift access. Each level of car park was therefore uninterrupted, so that when viewed from a distance the sky was visible through the structure. A cafe unit in a contrasting box structure sat above the top tier of the car park connected to the access towers by a glazed bridge and an open walkway. The cafe, which never actually opened, had large windows providing views across the [[River Tyne|Tyne Gorge]].


The developer was ''E Alec Colman Investments Ltd'', who had also used Luder for their [[Tricorn Centre]] in [[Portsmouth]], and construction was undertaken by [[Sir Robert McAlpine, 1st Baronet|Robert McAlpine]]. The Consulting Structural Engineer was Gordon Rose of Rose Associates. The lead architect was [[Rodney Gordon]].<ref name=Jeffries-15-03-2004>{{cite news|last=Jeffries|first=Stuart|title=The joy of concrete|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2004/mar/15/architecture.regeneration|accessdate=22 February 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 March 2004}}</ref><ref name=Croft-10-09-2008>{{cite news|last=Croft|first=Catherine|title=Obituary: Rodney Gordon|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/sep/10/architecture|accessdate=22 February 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=10 September 2008}}</ref> The car park was commissioned as part of the redevelopment of the established market square in Gateshead town centre, and hence was sometimes referred to as the Inner Market Car Park. However the landscaping ultimately created an exposed and unattractive shopping precinct on two levels with poor access. While construction of the car park was in progress [[subsidence]] was noticed due to [[Mining|mine]] workings, but this was overcome. At the same time nearby [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] had begun the covered [[Eldon Square Shopping Centre]] and this further undermined the long-term success of the development. The rooftop cafe failed to find a tenant and was never opened.
The developer was ''E Alec Colman Investments Ltd'', which had also used Luder for its [[Tricorn Centre]] in [[Portsmouth]], and construction was undertaken by [[Sir Robert McAlpine, 1st Baronet|Robert McAlpine]]. The consulting structural engineer was Gordon Rose of Rose Associates. The lead architect was [[Rodney Gordon]].<ref name=Jeffries-15-03-2004>{{cite news|last=Jeffries|first=Stuart|title=The joy of concrete|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/mar/15/architecture.regeneration|accessdate=22 February 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 March 2004}}</ref><ref name=Croft-10-09-2008>{{cite news|last=Croft|first=Catherine|title=Obituary: Rodney Gordon|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2008/sep/10/architecture|accessdate=22 February 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=10 September 2008}}</ref> The car park was commissioned as part of the redevelopment of the established market square in Gateshead town centre, and hence was sometimes referred to as the Inner Market car park. However the landscaping ultimately created an exposed and unattractive shopping precinct on two levels with poor access. While construction of the car park was in progress [[subsidence]] was noticed due to [[Mining|mine]] workings, but this was overcome. At the same time nearby [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] had begun the covered [[Eldon Square Shopping Centre]] and this further undermined the long-term success of the development. The rooftop cafe failed to find a tenant and was never opened. It was also unable to be granted a fire certificate by the fire service.


===Depiction in ''Get Carter''===
===Depiction in ''Get Carter''===
[[Image:TrinityCentre02.jpg|thumb|right|Showing the roof top cafe]]
[[Image:TrinityCentre02.jpg|thumb|right|Showing the rooftop cafe]]
The car park is the location of several key scenes in ''[[Get Carter]]'', and is often seen in the distance. Local businessman Cliff Brumby ([[Bryan Mosley]]) meets Jack Carter ([[Michael Caine]]) at the incomplete roof top cafe, stating that he is in the process of developing it into a restaurant. Carter later confronts Brumby at the same location, and pushes him off; meanwhile the two effete architects waiting elsewhere in the building for Brumby start worrying about ever getting their fees. After this film the Car Park was given the name "Get Carter car park" because of its appearance in the film. The director [[Mike Hodges]] was not aware that his friend Rodney Gordon had designed the car park, and did not understand Gordon's constant joking that one of the architect characters was a send-up of him. It was only through reading Gordon's obituaries that Hodges realised he was serious: "Until then I'd always thought the architect was Owen Luder whereas, in fact, it was his practice that took the credit. My friend, Rodney Gordon, had actually designed the Trinity Centre. He hadn't been joking after all."<ref name=Hodges-26-07-2010>{{cite news|last=Hodges|first=Mike|title=A concrete monstrosity, but it was perfect for my film|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/mike-hodges-a-concrete-monstrosity-but-it-was-perfect-for-my-film-2035420.html|accessdate=22 February 2012|newspaper=The Independent|date=26 July 2010}}</ref>
The car park is the location of several key scenes in ''[[Get Carter]]'', and is often seen in the distance. Local businessman Cliff Brumby ([[Bryan Mosley]]) meets Jack Carter ([[Michael Caine]]) at the incomplete rooftop café, as he is in the process of developing it into a restaurant. Carter later confronts Brumby on one of the building's stairways, and pushes him off to his death; meanwhile the two effete architects waiting in the unfinished café for Brumby start worrying about ever getting their fees. After this film the car park was dubbed the ''Get Carter'' car park because of its appearance in the film. The director [[Mike Hodges]] was not aware that his friend Rodney Gordon had designed the car park, and did not understand Gordon's constant joking that one of the architect characters was a send-up of him. It was only through reading Gordon's obituaries that Hodges realised he was serious: "Until then I'd always thought the architect was Owen Luder whereas, in fact, it was his practice that took the credit. My friend, Rodney Gordon, had actually designed the Trinity Centre. He hadn't been joking after all."<ref name=Hodges-26-07-2010>{{cite news|last=Hodges|first=Mike|title=A concrete monstrosity, but it was perfect for my film|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/mike-hodges-a-concrete-monstrosity-but-it-was-perfect-for-my-film-2035420.html|accessdate=22 February 2012|newspaper=The Independent|date=26 July 2010}}</ref>


===Other depictions===
===Other depictions===
⚫
[[Image:Trinity Centre carpark roof.JPG|thumb|right|Derelict state of the rooftop restaurant during April 2008 tour]]
⚫
In 2005, BBC Radio 3 broadcast 'Gateshead Multi-Storey Car Park' in its experimental Between The Ears slot. A radiophonic tribute to Trinity Square, produced by [[Langham Research Centre]], the programme was made entirely from the sounds of the carpark, processed and treated on quarter-inch tape, featuring interviews with its architect Owen Luder, and representatives from the [[Twentieth Century Society]] and [[Gateshead]] Council.<ref>Storeys to tell, http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2005/jun/20/radio.television</ref>
⚫
[[File:Trinity square demolition1.JPG|thumb|right|The first day of demolition on the car park structure, on 26 July 2010]]
⚫
In 2005, BBC Radio 3 broadcast ''Gateshead Multi-Storey Car Park'' in its experimental ''Between The Ears'' slot. A radiophonic tribute to Trinity Square, produced by [[Langham Research Centre]], the programme was made entirely from the sounds of the car park, processed and treated on quarter-inch tape, featuring interviews with its architect Owen Luder, and representatives from the [[Twentieth Century Society]] and [[Gateshead]] Council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jun/20/radio.television|title=Radio review: Storeys to tell|last=Mahoney|first=Elisabeth|date=2005-06-20|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-04-19}}</ref>


The car park was the subject of ''scale (1/16 inch=1 foot)'', a dual channel super 16mm film transferred to video, 16 minutes long and made in 2003. The work is by [[Turner Prize]]-nominated artist [[Runa Islam]]. In the piece the building is compared to its architectural model.
The car park was the subject of ''scale (1/16 inch=1 foot)'', a dual channel super 16{{Nbsp}}mm film transferred to video, 16 minutes long and made in 2003. The work is by [[Turner Prize]]-nominated artist [[Runa Islam]]. In the piece the building is compared to its architectural model.


In 1984, Newcastle band [[Hurrah!]] shot a [[video]] showing the group performing their third single "Who'd Have Thought", which reached number 7 in the UK Indie chart in 1984, at the very top of the 15 storey car park.<ref name="get hurrah!">http://www.generator.org.uk/blog/get-hurrah/</ref>
In 1984, Newcastle band [[Hurrah!]] shot a [[video]] showing the group performing their third single "Who'd Have Thought", which reached number 7 in the UK Indie chart in 1984, at the top of the 15 storey car park.<ref name="get hurrah!">{{cite web |url=http://www.generator.org.uk/blog/get-hurrah/ |title=Get Hurrah! &#124; Generator |accessdate=2011-04-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724231330/http://www.generator.org.uk/blog/get-hurrah/ |archivedate=2011-07-24 }}</ref>


==Decline==
==Decline==
With the development of the [[MetroCentre (shopping centre)|MetroCentre]] and competition from nearby [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] city centre, commercial interests in Gateshead town centre have declined. The 1985 opening of the [[Gateshead Interchange]], a bus and metro transport hub, combined with changes to town centre access for private motorists, made the car park largely redundant. Its deteriorating condition also led to the 1995 decision to close the upper parking levels. In the late 1990s [[Tesco]] acquired an interest in the site and in 2008 work began to redevelop the entire Trinity Square site and the existing Tesco supermarket into a new town centre shopping complex.<ref name="yourtrinitysquare">http://www.yourtrinitysquare.co.uk/</ref>
With the development of the [[MetroCentre (shopping centre)|MetroCentre]] and competition from nearby [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] city centre, commercial interests in Gateshead town centre have declined. The 1985 opening of the [[Gateshead Interchange]], a bus and metro transport hub, combined with changes to town centre access for private motorists, made the car park largely redundant. Its deteriorating condition also led to the 1995 decision to close the upper parking levels. In the late 1990s [[Tesco]] acquired an interest in the site and in 2008 work began to redevelop the entire Trinity Square site and the existing Tesco supermarket into a new town centre shopping complex.<ref name="yourtrinitysquare">{{cite web |url=http://www.yourtrinitysquare.co.uk/ |title=Trinity Square : Trinity Square Gateshead |accessdate=2008-09-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907120700/http://www.yourtrinitysquare.co.uk/ |archivedate=2008-09-07 }}</ref>


===Preservation attempts===
===Preservation attempts===
During the 1980s and 1990s, there were various proposals to redevelop the car park as a contemporary [[art gallery]] or events venue (and in 1983 Charlie Hooker and the Newcastle-based ''Basement Group'' organised ''Mainbeam – a ballet for vehicles'' there), but as the structure was regarded as a civic [[white elephant]], these all met with local resistance.
During the 1980s and 1990s, there were various proposals to redevelop the car park as a contemporary [[art gallery]] or events venue (and in 1983 Charlie Hooker and the Newcastle-based Basement Group organised ''Mainbeam – a ballet for vehicles'' there), but as the structure was regarded as a civic [[white elephant]], these all met with local resistance.


The building remained un[[listed building|listed]]. The building was featured in the [[Channel 4]] series ''[[Demolition (television)|Demolition]]'' in [[2005 in television|2005]]. At the same time general interest in the car park increased, partly as a reflection of the recognition of ''Get Carter'' as a classic of [[British cinema]], with [[Sylvester Stallone]] lending his [[Get Carter (2000 film)|weight]] to the calls for it to be preserved as a cinematic landmark.
The building remained un[[listed building|listed]]. The building was featured in the [[Channel 4]] series ''[[Demolition (television)|Demolition]]'' in [[2005 in television|2005]]. At the same time general interest in the car park increased, partly as a reflection of the recognition of ''Get Carter'' as a classic of [[British cinema]], with [[Sylvester Stallone]] lending his [[Get Carter (2000 film)|weight]] to the calls for it to be preserved as a cinematic landmark.


===Demolition===
===Demolition===
⚫
In June 2007, [[Gateshead Council]] and site owners Tesco confirmed the demolition of the car park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iconic car park to go in revamp|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/6746191.stm|date=June 2007}}</ref> The shops in the shopping centre below closed at the end of January 2008, in readiness for the demolition, and a final tour of the upper levels was held by the owners of the site in April 2008. Demolition of the buildings surrounding the car park was started at the end of 2008 by demolition contractor, Thompsons of Prudhoe. By 2010, the car park structure remained, although the shopping centre buildings around had been demolished. Demolition of the car park itself finally commenced on 26 July 2010, with Owen Luder stating that Gateshead would lose its "front teeth".<ref>{{cite web|title=Demolition of Gateshead Get Carter Car Park Starts|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-10759090|date=July 2010}}</ref>
⚫
[[Image:Trinity Centre carpark roof.JPG|thumb|right|Derelict state of the rooftop restaurant during April 2008 tour]]
⚫
[[File:Trinity square demolition1.JPG|thumb|right|The first day of demolition on the car park structure, on the 26 July 2010]]
⚫
In June 2007, [[Gateshead Council]] and site owners Tesco confirmed the demolition of the car park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iconic car park to go in revamp|work=BBC news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/6746191.stm|date=June 2007}}</ref> The shops in the shopping centre below closed at the end of January 2008, in readiness for the demolition, and a final tour of the upper levels was held by the owners of the site in April 2008. Demolition of the buildings surrounding the car park was started at the end of 2008 by demolition contractor, Thompsons of Prudhoe. By 2010, the car park structure remained, although the shopping centre buildings around had been demolished. Demolition of the car park itself finally commenced on 26 July 2010, with Owen Luder stating that Gateshead would lose its "front teeth".<ref>{{cite web|title=Demolition of Gateshead Get Carter Car Park Starts|work=BBC news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-10759090|date=July 2010}}</ref>


Gateshead Council sold off fragments of the remains as "commemorative pieces of concrete in specially decorated tins" for £5 each.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-12283814 Pieces of iconic Get Carter car park on sale to fans] ''BBC news'', 26 January 2011</ref>
Gateshead Council sold off fragments of the remains as "commemorative pieces of concrete in specially decorated tins" for £5 each.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-12283814 Pieces of iconic Get Carter car park on sale to fans] ''BBC News'', 26 January 2011</ref>

==Redevelopment==
The site was subsequently redeveloped by [[Spenhill Developments]], a division of [[Tesco]],<ref>[http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2010/07/16/tesco-unveils-150m-gateshead-town-centre-scheme Tesco unveils £150m Gateshead Town Centre Scheme] in ''Construction Enquirer'', 26 July 2010</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.aol.co.uk/environment-news/get-carter-car-park-demolished/article/2010072610221174534217|title=HuffPost UK: UK News and Opinion|website=HuffPost UK|language=en|access-date=2018-04-19}}</ref> and a large supermarket, which was built by [[Bowmer + Kirkland]], was completed in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/local-news/thousand-jobs-created-gateshead-revamp-1369163|title=Thousand jobs to be created by Gateshead revamp|publisher=Chronicle Live|date=9 August 2012}}</ref> Trinity Square was nominated for the 2014 [[Carbuncle Cup]] for the ugliest building of the previous 12 months.<ref name="BD">bdonline.co.uk: [http://www.bdonline.co.uk/buildings/carbuncle-cup The Carbuncle Cup award for the worst new building], accessdate: 24/08/2014</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<references/>


==External links==
==External links==
⚫
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070621115611/dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/o/aouq09/getcarter/carpark.htm Tour of the car park as a location used in the film 'Get Carter']
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/gatesheadcarpark/ Flickr pool]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/image_galleries/gateshead_carpark_last_visit_gallery.shtml Photos at the top of the car park]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/image_galleries/gateshead_carpark_last_visit_gallery.shtml Photos at the top of the car park]
⚫
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070621115611/http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/o/aouq09/getcarter/carpark.htm Tour of the car park as a location used in the film 'Get Carter']
* [http://www.yourtrinitysquare.co.uk/ Tesco's website on the future of Trinity Square]
* [http://www.oldtrinitysquare.com/ Gallery of images from inside the top floor of the car park]
* [http://thompsonsofprudhoe.com/ Thompsons of Prudhoe, demolition contractor]


{{coord|54.9627|-1.6022|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{coord|54.9627|-1.6022|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}


{{Shopping centres in Northeast England}}
{{Shopping centres in Northeast England}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1967]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1967]]
[[Category:Brutalist architecture in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Brutalist architecture in England]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Gateshead]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Gateshead]]
[[Category:Shopping centres in Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:Shopping centres in Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in England]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2010]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2010]]

Latest revision as of 21:00, 20 November 2024

Sculpture in the square's centre

Trinity Square is a shopping and leisure centre in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. The new centre was constructed on the site of former multi-storey car park and shopping complex going by the same name, which originally opened in 1967.

The former Trinity Square was noted for its Brutalist architecture produced by Rodney Gordon when he worked for the Owen Luder Partnership. The car park had a prominent role in the 1971 film Get Carter, so is commonly referred to as the Get Carter car park. The demolition of the car park structure itself started on 26 July 2010 and was complete by early October of the same year. The shopping centre opened in 2013.

Construction

[edit]

The car park was designed in 1962 by the Owen Luder Partnership when Brutalism was regarded as the cutting edge of architecture, but by the time that it opened in 1967, interest in the movement had begun to decline. The building's raw concrete weathered poorly, and by the time Get Carter was filmed in 1970 the car park had already become patchy.

The multi-storey car park had seven tiers of parking decks. These were raised above the adjoining shopping centre by a "forest" of piloti columns. The decks on the north face had a slight curve creating a wave effect. There were two supporting towers containing stair and lift access. Each level of car park was therefore uninterrupted, so that when viewed from a distance the sky was visible through the structure. A cafe unit in a contrasting box structure sat above the top tier of the car park connected to the access towers by a glazed bridge and an open walkway. The cafe, which never actually opened, had large windows providing views across the Tyne Gorge.

The developer was E Alec Colman Investments Ltd, which had also used Luder for its Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth, and construction was undertaken by Robert McAlpine. The consulting structural engineer was Gordon Rose of Rose Associates. The lead architect was Rodney Gordon.[1][2] The car park was commissioned as part of the redevelopment of the established market square in Gateshead town centre, and hence was sometimes referred to as the Inner Market car park. However the landscaping ultimately created an exposed and unattractive shopping precinct on two levels with poor access. While construction of the car park was in progress subsidence was noticed due to mine workings, but this was overcome. At the same time nearby Newcastle upon Tyne had begun the covered Eldon Square Shopping Centre and this further undermined the long-term success of the development. The rooftop cafe failed to find a tenant and was never opened. It was also unable to be granted a fire certificate by the fire service.

Depiction in Get Carter

[edit]
Showing the rooftop cafe

The car park is the location of several key scenes in Get Carter, and is often seen in the distance. Local businessman Cliff Brumby (Bryan Mosley) meets Jack Carter (Michael Caine) at the incomplete rooftop café, as he is in the process of developing it into a restaurant. Carter later confronts Brumby on one of the building's stairways, and pushes him off to his death; meanwhile the two effete architects waiting in the unfinished café for Brumby start worrying about ever getting their fees. After this film the car park was dubbed the Get Carter car park because of its appearance in the film. The director Mike Hodges was not aware that his friend Rodney Gordon had designed the car park, and did not understand Gordon's constant joking that one of the architect characters was a send-up of him. It was only through reading Gordon's obituaries that Hodges realised he was serious: "Until then I'd always thought the architect was Owen Luder whereas, in fact, it was his practice that took the credit. My friend, Rodney Gordon, had actually designed the Trinity Centre. He hadn't been joking after all."[3]

Other depictions

[edit]
Derelict state of the rooftop restaurant during April 2008 tour
The first day of demolition on the car park structure, on 26 July 2010

In 2005, BBC Radio 3 broadcast Gateshead Multi-Storey Car Park in its experimental Between The Ears slot. A radiophonic tribute to Trinity Square, produced by Langham Research Centre, the programme was made entirely from the sounds of the car park, processed and treated on quarter-inch tape, featuring interviews with its architect Owen Luder, and representatives from the Twentieth Century Society and Gateshead Council.[4]

The car park was the subject of scale (1/16 inch=1 foot), a dual channel super 16 mm film transferred to video, 16 minutes long and made in 2003. The work is by Turner Prize-nominated artist Runa Islam. In the piece the building is compared to its architectural model.

In 1984, Newcastle band Hurrah! shot a video showing the group performing their third single "Who'd Have Thought", which reached number 7 in the UK Indie chart in 1984, at the top of the 15 storey car park.[5]

Decline

[edit]

With the development of the MetroCentre and competition from nearby Newcastle upon Tyne city centre, commercial interests in Gateshead town centre have declined. The 1985 opening of the Gateshead Interchange, a bus and metro transport hub, combined with changes to town centre access for private motorists, made the car park largely redundant. Its deteriorating condition also led to the 1995 decision to close the upper parking levels. In the late 1990s Tesco acquired an interest in the site and in 2008 work began to redevelop the entire Trinity Square site and the existing Tesco supermarket into a new town centre shopping complex.[6]

Preservation attempts

[edit]

During the 1980s and 1990s, there were various proposals to redevelop the car park as a contemporary art gallery or events venue (and in 1983 Charlie Hooker and the Newcastle-based Basement Group organised Mainbeam – a ballet for vehicles there), but as the structure was regarded as a civic white elephant, these all met with local resistance.

The building remained unlisted. The building was featured in the Channel 4 series Demolition in 2005. At the same time general interest in the car park increased, partly as a reflection of the recognition of Get Carter as a classic of British cinema, with Sylvester Stallone lending his weight to the calls for it to be preserved as a cinematic landmark.

Demolition

[edit]

In June 2007, Gateshead Council and site owners Tesco confirmed the demolition of the car park.[7] The shops in the shopping centre below closed at the end of January 2008, in readiness for the demolition, and a final tour of the upper levels was held by the owners of the site in April 2008. Demolition of the buildings surrounding the car park was started at the end of 2008 by demolition contractor, Thompsons of Prudhoe. By 2010, the car park structure remained, although the shopping centre buildings around had been demolished. Demolition of the car park itself finally commenced on 26 July 2010, with Owen Luder stating that Gateshead would lose its "front teeth".[8]

Gateshead Council sold off fragments of the remains as "commemorative pieces of concrete in specially decorated tins" for £5 each.[9]

Redevelopment

[edit]

The site was subsequently redeveloped by Spenhill Developments, a division of Tesco,[10][11] and a large supermarket, which was built by Bowmer + Kirkland, was completed in 2013.[12] Trinity Square was nominated for the 2014 Carbuncle Cup for the ugliest building of the previous 12 months.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Jeffries, Stuart (15 March 2004). "The joy of concrete". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  2. ^ Croft, Catherine (10 September 2008). "Obituary: Rodney Gordon". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  3. ^ Hodges, Mike (26 July 2010). "A concrete monstrosity, but it was perfect for my film". The Independent. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  4. ^ Mahoney, Elisabeth (20 June 2005). "Radio review: Storeys to tell". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Get Hurrah! | Generator". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Trinity Square : Trinity Square Gateshead". Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  7. ^ "Iconic car park to go in revamp". BBC News. June 2007.
  8. ^ "Demolition of Gateshead Get Carter Car Park Starts". BBC News. July 2010.
  9. ^ Pieces of iconic Get Carter car park on sale to fans BBC News, 26 January 2011
  10. ^ Tesco unveils £150m Gateshead Town Centre Scheme in Construction Enquirer, 26 July 2010
  11. ^ "HuffPost UK: UK News and Opinion". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Thousand jobs to be created by Gateshead revamp". Chronicle Live. 9 August 2012.
  13. ^ bdonline.co.uk: The Carbuncle Cup award for the worst new building, accessdate: 24/08/2014
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54°57′46″N 1°36′08″W / 54.9627°N 1.6022°W / 54.9627; -1.6022

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