55-02

Hidden away on the northern shore of Kielder Water there is a bright red, steel structure within the trees of Cock Stoor (we have no idea how it got its name but 'Stoor' is an old word for 'Dust'). It lies at a longitude of 55 degrees and a latitude of 02 degrees and is known unsurprisingly as 55-02.

As you may expect of an artwork named after its longitudinal and latitudinal siting, its location and the links to that spot are of importance to the design. The artwork was designed by sixteen*(makers) who have an interest in a process they call “design through making” where design and construction are linked and each informs and is reliant on the other.

The idea for 55-02 was to create a shelter that could evolve and change its form in response to its environment. While it has the usual things you would want in a shelter, walls, a roof, seats and a door they have been designed and arranged in ways that respond to key views and sightlines, the prevailing wind, location of surrounding trees and the path of the sun.

This arrangement was achieved via 3D digital modelling of the shelter meaning it could be adapted quickly and many prototypes could be made. Once the final design was set the digital drawings were sent to a manufacturer who cut the pieces out and formed them. Each piece was transported from Germany to site and a team of workers installed it.

The walls were designed to be moveable and there was a sliding panel that could all be moved to configure the shelter to suit the current weather conditions, although the years have seen these either seize up or be welded in place to prevent damage. It is still a striking piece of architecture and can be seen through the trees as a mysterious red structure even from the southern shore.

The shelter was completed in May of 2009 and it won a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award in 2011.