Former Smokehouse, Fish Quay, North Shields

Image: © Geoff Holland Taken: 2 Jul 2019

This historic smokehouse which sits on the 17th-century walls of Clifford's Fort has recently been converted into a living space and studio by a local architect. A striking feature of the design is a triple-glazed frontage facing the sea made from 40 curved van windscreens, which has been likened to the sails of a ship catching the wind. The glazing will provide a growing zone for salad crops, which will be irrigated by the water used to raise fast-growing African tilapia fish on the ground floor. The energy-efficient, super-insulated building also has roof solar panels and an air source heat pump, and the additions have used 100-year-old Australian eucalyptus wood which was imported for use as railway sleepers. The curved windows which form the most part of the glazing are made from the windscreens from Ford Transit vans. I am not sure if they are new or recovered from old vehicles. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk

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