Dunelm House
& Kingsgate Bridge
An iconic pair in Durham City
Dunelm House, Durham
Dunelm House is an iconic building located on Durham's riverbanks. The 'marmite' of Durham, it often divides opinion with its unique appearance.
It was completed in 1966, and currently houses Durham University's Students Union.
The originally white concrete structure was constructed to the designs of Richard Raines of the Architects’ Co-Partnership, under supervision of the partner Michael Powers. It is physically connected to the Grade I-listed Kingsgate Bridge designed by Ove Arup. Arup was the design engineer for the Sydney Opera house yet Kingsgate bridge was considered by him to be the finest works of his career.
Arup acted as structural engineer and architectural advisor for Dunelm House and is featured in a bust on one of the outside walls as you come from the bridge.
Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House from street. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House from street. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
"Dunelm House is one of the UK's best and most intact Brutalist university buildings. Widely admired at the time and since, all those who aren't blinded by fashion-based hostility to concrete modernism can see that it's a distinguished and important showcase of the optimism, generosity and cultural expansiveness of the 1960s. Its cubist composition of terraces has brought beautiful views and flexible facilities to a student population expanding in numbers and social diversity."
- Barnabas Calder, Head of Architectural and Urban History Group, University of Liverpool School of Architecture.
The façade of Dunelm House has an inspired likeness to Sainte Marie de La Tourette. La Tourette is a Dominican Order priory, located on a hillside near Lyon, France. It was designed by Le Corbusier and is poignant as it was the famed architect’s final building.
In 1966, the Northern Echo’s Architectural Correspondent suggested that 'Amateurs of modern architecture will recognise Dunelm House as an English translation of one of Le Corbusier’s greatest buildings.'
The correspondent noted the way the different rooflines mirrored the centuries of natural growth of other buildings on Durham's peninsula, and he loved how each floor was stepped back into the hillside to provide a roof terrace for the next level.
Andrew Carr, south west corner of La Tourette. (2010). Photograph. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Andrew Carr, south west corner of La Tourette. (2010). Photograph. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Andrew Carr, west elevation of La Tourette. (2010). Photograph. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Andrew Carr, west elevation of La Tourette. (2010). Photograph. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
"Like all buildings, it (Dunelm House) needs periodic maintenance and respectful upgrading every few decades. It is well behind in this cycle, but the option exists to repair and refurbish it to a very high standard of aesthetics and environmental performance."
Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House from inside. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House from inside. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
A petition was established, with many organisations rallying to support Dunelm House's cause in an attempt to save it from the wrecking ball such as the C20 society and Save Dunelm House.
In 2021, the petition and conversation are still very much active and concerned with preserving this significant example of an endangered species of architecture.
In recent years, Historic England campaigned to protect Dunelm House with a Grade II listed status. In 2016, the then Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, ignored their advice and presented the building with a Certificate of Immunity, allowing Durham University to demolish the building.
Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House from inside. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House from inside. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
Kingsgate Bridge, Durham
Completed in 1963, Architect Ove Arup considered Kingsgate bridge his finest work, and upon his death he wished to have his ashes scattered from it.
Ove Arup during the Kingsgate Bridge construction. Palace Green Library, Durham University
Ove Arup during the Kingsgate Bridge construction. Palace Green Library, Durham University
The bridge is an experiment in 'total design'. Every detail was planned by Arup, including the unusual way it was constructed. The need for scaffolding on the river was eliminated by casting the bridge in two halves, one for each bank. The halves were then swivelled out from the banks to meet.
Kingsgate Bridge, 1964, Palace Green Library, Durham University
Kingsgate Bridge, 1964, Palace Green Library, Durham University
John Martin, project manager for the bridge, said “Ove never seemed to worry that anything might go wrong. That was fine, it just meant that one felt fully responsible for seeing that it didn’t. But he got quite cross when the contractor took a few, to Ove’s view unnecessary, steps to make doubly sure that construction went smoothly. I think that to him it was a question of spoiling the elegance of the idea”. (Kingsgate Bridge - Ove Arup's Finest Work - Arup)
List of Artworks & Images used
1. Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House. (2018). Courtesy of photographer
2. Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
3. Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House from street. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
4. Andrew Carr, south west corner of La Tourette. (2010). Photograph. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
5. Andrew Carr, west elevation of La Tourette. (2010). Photograph. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
6. Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House from inside. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
7. Sally Norman, photograph of Dunelm House from inside. (2018). Courtesy of photographer.
8. Kingsgate Bridge, 1964, Palace Green Library, Durham University.
9. Ove Arup, Palace Green Library, Durham University.
10. Kingsgate Bridge, Palace Green Library, Durham University.
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