Like many markets around the world, Newcastle’s historic Grainger Market faced challenges surrounding visitor numbers, governance and long-term resilience before revitalisation plans were awarded a grant from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Recently unveiled to the public, we have introduced a series of careful, considered interventions to help it thrive as a vital civic space.
Our input respects the Grade I listed structure while creating opportunities for new uses and greater flexibility. It draws on our experience of rethinking high streets and markets and was shaped through close collaboration with local partners and engagement with traders and the city.
This informed a series of interior improvements to support wayfinding and navigation, including two new pavilions at each end of the main arcade providing more space to sit, meet and eat, as well as stage events. WC provision has been refurbished and increased to support larger events – for which, programmable LED lighting and AV equipment now allow the arcade to shift seamlessly from daytime trading to evening entertainment. Outside, new streetscape features strengthen the market’s presence in the city centre and reinforce its role as a shared public place.
The collaboration with local designers and artists has further rooted the market in its context. A visionary new brand identity has been established by Newcastle-based studio Gardiner Richardson, hand-painted signage now features in every entranceway by lettering artist Ash Willerton, new furniture by NE1 designers Deadgood will sit between and on the new pavilions and new suspended wayfinding sculptures are soon to be installed. Each element builds on the market’s distinctive visual language.
The overall aim was to improve comfort for traders and visitors whilst rethinking the market’s role for the future. With photography captured by Gardiner Richardson, we are delighted to see this phase of works now complete, better supporting the market as a social destination with newfound flexibility.
