Derwent Tower, Dunston – Miniature Concrete Model

Model 087_Derwent Tower, Dunston – Miniature Concrete Model
Hand-cast in fine concrete. Shaped by memory.

Some buildings disappear from the skyline but remain firmly in the memory of a place.
Derwent Tower stood above Dunston, near Gateshead, as one of the North East's most distinctive post-war landmarks. Designed by the Owen Luder Partnership for Whickham Council, construction began in 1968 and the tower opened in 1971. Its unusual profile quickly earned it the local nickname "Dunston Rocket", a name that stayed with it throughout its life.

Its form grew partly from the difficult ground beneath it. The 29-storey tower required an unusual sunken concrete caisson foundation and dramatic structural supports, helping create the powerful silhouette that made it unlike almost any other British tower block. Historic England described the building as unique in Britain, while its nickname reflected how strongly its shape entered local identity.

This model was about bringing that lost silhouette back into a physical form.
I wanted to capture the strong vertical tower, the change in form through the building, and the distinctive supports at its base. Getting those proportions right took careful scaling and refinement, particularly because so much of Derwent Tower's character came from its unusual structure rather than surface decoration.

A small cast that keeps the Dunston Rocket part of the skyline.

Features
• Solid cast concrete, individually hand-poured
• 9cm high, 4.5cm wide, 4.5cm deep (approx)
• Laser-etched cork base with building name
• Comes gift-boxed for the perfect concrete gift
• Designed, modelled, and finished in the UK

Made for those who remember seeing the Rocket above Dunston, lived there, grew up with it on the horizon, or have discovered it through an interest in lost Brutalist architecture. It is a small way to hold onto a building that disappeared physically but remains part of the architectural and social memory of Tyneside.

15% off when you order two or more models

EU customers: please order via my Etsy shop due to customs regulations

Building Information

Location: Dunston, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK
Architect: Owen Luder Partnership
Completed: 1971
Status: Demolished in 2012
Brief Overview:
Derwent Tower was commissioned by Whickham Council as part of a wider housing development in Dunston. The 29-storey residential tower was particularly unusual because of the difficult ground conditions beneath it. Its foundations used a large sunken concrete caisson, a technique more commonly associated with harbour construction, while prominent structural supports contributed to its instantly recognisable appearance.

After years of deterioration and problems with building services, residents were rehoused in 2007. An attempt to secure listed status was unsuccessful, and demolition began in January 2012 and was completed that September. Its loss made Derwent Tower another major Owen Luder-era Brutalist landmark to disappear from the North East, following the demolition of Gateshead's Trinity Square complex.

ALL EU ORDERS processed through our Etsy Store HERE

My concrete models are made to order and individually hand-cast in solid concrete. This means that each piece will have distinctive markings and textures from the curing process in the concrete. This is a natural part of the material and will mean that no two pieces are ever exactly the same.

Shipping:
Models are all made to order and I aim to make and ship your order within 30 days. If you require your order by a specific date before this please let me know.

UK Express processing options are available at checkout for additional costs