Verde forms an important part of Newcastle’s Science Central Masterplan, balancing the vibrant colours of neighbouring buildings, such as The View (which we also designed) and defining the edges of the gateway on Wellington Street. Its sharp angles provide a dynamic response to the street front, creating a huge impact as you come into the city.
Across two buildings, Verde comprises 431 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, along with 112 self-contained studio flats. State-of-the-art leisure facilities including a cinema room, games room and fully equipped gym contribute to the well being of its residents and encourage a community feel across the complex.
The scheme’s strong identity is derived from its glazed, vibrant green terracotta façade. The prow of the main 11-storey building rises to a focal point at the northern gateway to the Science Central site with crisp angles helping to define views and capture changes in reflected and refracted natural light.
An expansive landscaped courtyard was also created. Its elevations comprise light reflective silver aluminium panels with two different finishes and are arranged over two floors resulting in a checkerboard pattern. We chose the colours of the panels to reflect the changing colours of the sky.