THE BLUE CARPET

Thomas Heatherwick, designer of the public square in Newcastle transformed an unloved space around the Laing Art Gallery.
'The Blue Carpet' introduces colour and a cohesive surface to a setting that contains a mix of building types and had no defining character. Laid across the square and 'riding up' against the gallery, the carpet draws the buildings together and creates an intimate open space for both performance and play. The surface has been peeled back to create benches and light voids, and the project incorporates an elegant laminated wooden spiral staircase. Was not as impressive as all the hype about it.
www.commissionsnorth.org