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In a Twist
Sat. 24th March., 2001
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During 1953 Doctors Watson and Crick made the astounding discovery that all of the instructions for life are
contained in a long spiral bio molecule called DNA (Deoxy-ribo-Nucleic Acid)
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Since then scientists throughout the world have toiled to unravel the mysteries of this blueprint for life. James
Watson from America and Francis Harry Compton Crick for Britain were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine in 1962.
Here in Newcastle a new centre for research and exposition was built between 1986 and 2000 on the site of
Marlborough Crescent Bus Station and some derelict industrial land adjacent to the Central Station.
Here is the sculpture depicting the DNA spiral by Charles Jencks. It was unveiled by James Watson on 18th June,
2000. The Centre was officially opened by Carol Vorderman on 27th May, 2000.
The £25 million centre comprises two major buildings, the Interactive World Centre, seen here, with its innovative
tubular spine and novel roof construction. The other structure, the Bio Research Centre, is a hideous eyesore of hastily thrown together concrete and glass blocks, looking like a giant public toilet.
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The ribs of the Interactive World building are made from many layers of wood curved and stressed so as to provide
a sprung arch support for the roof. The roof panels are all unique, being variously curved in three dimensions. Giant curved skylights allow natural light into the building. From above it is shaped like
a foetus.
The unobstructed space within the building allows flexibility in the interactive visitor displays. These include a
spinning vortex, a crazy motion ride, a tunnel of love like nothing else you ever seen, and a dinosaur that you can walk through.
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The centre did not receive universal acclaim when it was opened last year. Protesters voiced criticisms
about the implications of Bio-Genetical research.
Their presumption was that genetics, the branch of biology
dealing with heredity and variation in similar or related animals and plants, would make frightening and uncontrollable mutations that would eventually kill us all and take over the universe.
The supporters of science, whilst recognising that certain areas of research need to be handled with
care, generally agree that the human experience can only benefit from knowing the answers to questions such as "what is life?"
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In 1831 John Dobson built this Cattle Market Office building. The market had been moved to this location at this
time, and was subsequently moved to an adjacent plot to the south west when Marlborough Bus Station was erected during the 1920s, and was eventually closed and levelled for that car park visible in the mid distance
in 1983. The Office building was used by a building contractor for many years, before being reclaimed and restored during the building of the International Centre for Life. The Telewest Newcastle Arena, opened in
1982, is in the distance.
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The view from Times Square towards Clayton Street towards Pugin's St. Mary's R.C. cathedral church.
The building on the left is the Bio Sciences Research Centre, that on the right the edge of the
visitors' centre. There are several commercial shop units available at ground level that have yet to be taken
This development has had the effect of shifting the commercial activity from this area towards the city
centre along Clayton Street.
In previous years visitors would be deposited at the bus station ad then patronise the many shops
nearby on their way to the centre. John Blundell's department store stands empty, no doubt awaiting the inevitable change of use and development.
The creation of a large pedestrian and performance area protected from the outside world by the new
buildings, like a womb, is a welcome addition to this part of town. It has not been exploited, but I expect events are planned for the coming summer.
Meanwhile the Interactive World attracts visitors, but at a price that deters some from partaking in
the fun, or as some would say the propaganda aimed at removing fears of future Frankenstein freaks.
Visit it and judge for yourself.
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Here is the view across Times Square, the open space bounded by the new buildings, towards Marlborough Crescent,
once just a convenient on street car parking place and a perimeter road for the bus station, now the main thoroughfare from this part of town to the Quayside or onto the new Redheugh Bridge.
 When leaving this site I spotted a common enough sight in the city. A City Council Parking Control Attendant, or Blue Meanie, so called because of the coloured
band on their hats, was dishing out another £30 penalty ticket to an unfortunate motorist who was probably unable to unravel the convoluted parking restrictions in this street. The Blue Meanies capitalise on the
fact that the big signs say that you can park here, but tiny exceptions displayed on postage stamp sized notices trap the unwary many times a day.
This man was under the impression that it was an offence to photograph him in the public street and made
such a fuss that I thought he was going to burst a blood vessel.
He chatted to his controller by radio asking for police assistance, saying that he had told
me to go away. He had not, the only coherent question was for my name, which I refused.
However he did then tell me to go away, and I did. He immediately bellowed out "Where do you think you are
going? I've called the police to arrest you!" I told him I was only complying with his wish that I should go away and at that he became purple with rage, much to the amusement of the audience of passers by.
He tried to intimidate my friend who was with me by saying that he was an accomplice in this "crime".
We walked away and he followed us as we lead him in a circle of about half a kilometre. We managed to loose him and then observed the reinforcements arrive, who looked in many places for the
terrible criminals. We grew tired of this after 15 minutes and went on our way leaving them hunting in vain. What a waste of taxpayers money.
Please, tell this man if you should come across him, that you have seen him on the
Internet and that he is now a famous face, that should increase his paranoia to fever pitch!
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Click here to see high quality album copies of these and
other photographs from the same shoot
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If you should arrive here via a search, or be missing the navigation on the left hand side, click this
button.
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