The ‘Blue Carpet’ is a landmark in Newcastle. First unveiled in 2001 as part of an art-inspired renaissance across the City, it is both a novel piece of public art and an interesting urban design feature.
The carpet covers the area outside the Laing Art Gallery, and just as a piece of fabric would, curves up against buildings and bollards around the edges; even the benches seem to be folded up out of the carpet itself.
The carpet is made from 22,000 tiles and includes grains of glass from sherry bottles. All the tiles are handmade so each one is unique. The project also included the transplantation of seven mature trees from nurseries in Germany and the Netherlands, one of which - at 16 metres tall - is the largest ever to be transplanted in the UK.
It has been noted that perhaps the carpet is not quite as blue as it could have been, and that ‘grey’ might be a more accurate description. A council spokesperson at the time acknowledged this, and was reported as saying that only a certain amount of glass was permissible in a public area – hence the slightly faded blue effect!
This is a magnetic key safe in a busy location, so a pen or pencil plus maximum stealth will be required. It is accessible 24hrs a day, although you might have to negotiate the revellers on a Friday or Saturday night!