Sol Rio: a light hearted community

The Byker Wall housing development was built to re-house the working class community that had grown up around the shipyards and factories along the banks of the Tyne. Byker Wall is designed in a recognizably Post Modernist style. The new houses ran across the hill, making it easier for people to zig zag up the steep incline and making the most of the views. The low pitched roofs mean the houses do not block each others view. Careful attention was given when demolishing the existing housing. The thought was to not clear the slate, rather keep people in their homes until new ones were available to move into, additionally some old buildings including pubs, churches and swimming baths were retained in the new design. This would preserve the existing social fabric that so many of the current residents wanted and what new modern developments of the time were so good at destroying. The layout was designed to encourage cars to be left at the edges of the estate and public spaces were included to encourage social interaction.