Edward Cullinan Architects Unveil Designs on Maggie’s North East

In 2006 celebrated cancer charity Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres was approached to develop a Maggie’s Centre in the North East of England.

While the £3 million fundraising target is still in the early stages, renbowned RIBA Royal Gold Medallist, Ted Cullinan of Edward Cullinan Architects, has designed a highly sustainable Maggie’s Centre, located in the grounds of Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital.

The proposed centre- known as Maggie’s North East- will lie within the North of England Cancer Network, covering a population of approximately 2.1million people. The region encompasses an area that runs from the east coast across to Cumbria and down to the River Tees. Maggie’s North East will be located a short walk from the Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC) at Freeman Hospital, where people will receive treatment for their cancer.

There are around 5,500 new diagnoses of cancer a year in this region, and the designing of the North East’s first Maggie’s Centre is an honour Ted Cullinan of Edward Cullinan Architects doesn’t take lightly- “Maggie’s Centres aim at a wonderful balance of the moral with the aesthetic. We are thrilled to be involved.”

The highly sustainable design in the grounds of Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital will see the sheltered centre surrounded by vibrant landscape, partially enclosing a courtyard and incorporating two wings. The first will house counselling rooms and a large living room space, while the other will lead to the all-important kettle and kitchen table.

A central library will incorporate stairs up to a mezzanine level, covered by an angled roof covered in photovoltaic panels. The mezzanine will lead out onto the flat landscaped roof, screened by planting. A courtyard occupies the fourth quadrant, which visitors will see and walk out into from the kitchen and large meeting room.
The vibrantly planted embanked earth around the courtyard and building will provide shelter and privacy, and a small pavilion creates an outdoor place for conversation or being alone in.

Allowing the building, roof and landscape to be fully accessible aims to provide the users with a sense of ownership and allows for exploration and discovery on a relatively small site. Maggie’s Centres are somewhat domestic in character, having many of the features of a biggish house, and it has been found that they attract more women than men. So as well as the housey things, Ted’s centre has further things that both sexes might enjoy like gardening, barbecuing, hedge clipping, and outdoor games and gym equipment.

To find out more about Maggie’s North East or to join the Joy of Living campaign visit the Maggie’s website here.

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