About Bubble on the Tyne
Concept for a Multifunctional space on the River Tyne in conjunction with LaRiviera Restaurant:
“Bubble on the Tyne”, another head turning state of the art will bring more fame and attractions to the multi-cultural Newcastle /Gateshead. With its imaginative structure, it will be appreciated by the architectural, art and design enthusiasts, as well as the tourism visitors to the area. It will certainly be up there amongst the Millennium bridge, Sage, Baltic and the Angel of the North.
The proposed location of the “Bubble on the Tyne” will be an extension to LaRiviera restaurant. The location will also have a significant influence in its competitiveness in winning a multitude of design awards. Sitting in between two of the oldest bridges of the river Tyne, the swing and High Bridge at the same time as facing other prestigious, period and historical building structures of the Newcastle and Gateshead skyline, it will certainly offer an all round external views of the Bubble.
A Tube meets a Bubble to form the basic shape of the structure. Two bridge tunnels will connect the primary structure to LaRiviera Restaurant. Corten Steel, Toughened architectural glass and brushed aluminium will complement the structure in harmony with its surroundings.
The ceiling of the main tube area will be on a slide basis with both the brushed aluminium covering and the glass covering, to create a possible alfresco feel.
Some floor areas of the inner space will be in toughened glass with the effect of a fish tank underneath it. However the fish tank effect will be a computer generated effect only. The fish would also be interactive to touch. This means when stepped on the fish cluster will disperse.
The vessel will have telescopic legs which will allow it to float freely in calm high tide and yet controlled electronically which will allow the legs to expand, and on touching the base of the river would lock into position.
The Bubble structure would also contain an engine to allow it to sail in the water should the need arise.
As no power cable can be fitted/connected from inland it is envisaged that three turbine propellers underneath the structure will utilise the forces of the water movements during the 4 daily tidal changes to generate power
The design will be created to allow for the low tide at the same time as high tide.
The glass in the dome will also be controlled digitally, to be a seen from any parts of the world to reflect the occasion at that time. I.e.: We can have the New Year eve’s celebration s created from Sidney harbour or we can we can bring a bit of Times square into Tyneside, or better still stay with reality of Local scene.
Corten Steel, toughened tinted glass and Brushed Aluminium are amongst the proposed material for the structure of the “Bubble on the Tyne”.
The laminated glazed units for the bubble combine body-tinted glass with a white dot fritted pattern, giving a high performance shading coefficient to reduce solar gain, but transmitting a high proportion of the visibility spectrum.
Corten steel is used for the main body of the “Bubble on the Tyne”. The high performance qualities of this kind of steel, coupled up with its other qualities make it the preferred material for this project.