The Sitooteries - Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens May 2000.

Over the next 6 months Belsay Hall, Castle and gardens is the location for the installation of 12 'Sitooteries'. Each sitooterie (using the scottish word for a structure to sit out in), is the designers' interpretation of a quiet haven for contemplation. The project represents a joint venture between English Heritage, Northern Arts and Northern Architecture amongst others and demonstrates contemporary cutting edge design by an international list of invited artists and architects.

In June 1999, regional architectural practice Mosedale Gillatt Architects and product designers Octo Design Ltd, based in Gateshead, were shortlisted by the organisers to collaborate on the project. Other participants include Julian Opie, FAT, Claudio Silvestrin and Foster and Partners.

Following an initial visit to Belsay the MGA/Octo team conceived the initial design for the sitooterie as a reflective plane which would be situated in the quarry garden. The plane was to be visually unobtrusive when not in use, but would allow members of the public to interact with it and would meet the brief in addressing the concepts of shelter and seating in their purest forms.

The plan fabrication was completed in April 2000 and had developed to include two curved timber seats formed form American Oak, a deckchair which could be opened by the user, a glazed wall to the rear which would form a 'room' with one of the rock walls of the quarry and 5 bright annealed stainless steel panels which would reflect the landscape in the quarry when closed. Open, the interior faces of the panels are paint finished in orange and blue to provide a splash of warmth and colour to the quarry. The canopy panels themselves are fitted with gas struts from the automotive industry which makes them easy to open and close as a car boot.

Throughout the fabrication process the design team worked closely with the fabricator who quickly grasped what we were trying to achieve - the build quality of the finished product is testimony to this collaborative atmosphere in the workshop.

The plan was finally installed in the quarry garden at 5.30pm on a very wet Tuesday afternoon. The steel tray base was installed first and the 2.5 tons upright structure was transported along heavily wooded and muddy paths on a mobile crane to the quarry. The structure was then lowered onto 'shoes' set into the base and bolted into place.

Since the installation of the sitooterie, the publicity has been overwhelming and the exhibition has received much attention in the national press.

It has been a tremendous opportunity for MGA to be involved in English Heritages' flagship project and to collaborate with a product designer on this scheme. The design for the enclosed plan has been registered and we look forward to more collaborative projects in the future. The sitooteries are at Belsay Hall until September 2000 - it is likely that after this selected schemes will be taken to London for exhibition.

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