Roof of the Sage Gateshead reflecting passing clouds on a sunny day. Photo: Quintin Lake

A minute change in the passing clouds changes the appearance and illuminates the edge of the stainless steel panels. Photo: Quintin Lake

The silky appearance on an overcast day. Photo: Quintin Lake

Sensuous curves on the roof of Sage Gateshead. Photo: Quintin Lake

Detail of roof design of the Sage Gateshead. Photo: Quintin Lake

Tyne Bridge over the River Tyne, Newcastle with view to Gateshead Millennium Bridge, The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and Sage Gateshead. Photo: Quintin Lake

Designed by architect Foster and Partners and engineer Buro Happold the faceted roof of the Sage Gateshead concert hall changes appearance as it reflects the changeable british weather looking equally alluring on an overcast day or in bright sunlight. The roof of the Sage consists of 3,000 panels made from stainless steel and 250 made of glass. Each stainless steel panel has a linen finish to reduce the glare and is about four metres long and a metre wide. Each panel is solid and designed to prevent noise from heavy rain causing a distraction during concert performances.

Like these? See my photographs of architectural details of  Utzon’s Sydney Opera House and Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA

VIEW MORE / BUY PRINTS / LICENSE IMAGES of Sage Gateshead by Norman Foster here >>

Photography  © Quintin Lake, 2011