Structure and site description
The Angel of the North is an iconic sculpture constructed on a panoramic hilltop site in Team Valley near Gateshead. Designed by installation artist Anthony Gormley, the landmark structure was commissioned by Gateshead Council and officially opened to the public in June 1998.
Angel of the north against the sky © David Burton / Alamy
The sculpture is one of the most recognised pieces of modern public art in England. It is seen by up to 90,000 people each day as they pass it by car on the A1 or by train on the East Coast mainline.
Anthony Gormley’s inspirational design was modelled on an image of his own body. The original body castings were scanned using geomatics, so that the co-ordinates could be plotted to create a virtual 3D angel using a computer.
The giant steel figure stands 20 metres high, is 54 metres wide and weighs more than 208 tonnes. Wind loads are transmitted along the ribs and into the foundations of the sculpture, enabling it to withstand wind speeds of up to 100 miles an hour.
Anthony Gormley has been credited with providing a focal point for community cohesion and regeneration in the north east, as well as a popular visual presence that commemorates the industrial heritage of the north of England.
Body of the Angel of the North by Antony Gormley © Lucid Photography Services / Alamy
Architectural Style
Exemplar public art
Quirky facts
- The hollow body of the Angel of the North incorporates an internal door in the shoulder blade, to allow maintenance access.
- It took building fabricators 22,000 hours to carry out the construction work on the sculpture and the site it stands on.
- The Angel of the North’s wingspan is equal to that of a jumbo jet.
- The sculpture’s ankle cross-section has the same width as an ordinary house door.
Building highlights
- The Angel of the North is an iconic steel sculpture made up three parts: two wings and the main body.
- The structure is anchored to the hilltop of a former mining area, which was reclaimed as a green landscape in the 1990s.
- The foundations of the Angel of the North contain 150 tonnes of concrete, poured into piles which anchor the sculpture to solid rock 20 metres below ground level.
- The Angel of the North has a projected lifespan of more than 100 years.
Using this structure as a teaching resource
The Angel of the North is a unique piece of public art that can inspire teaching and learning across a range of subjects, including Art and Design, English and Maths.
- A viewing of the Angel of the North can support an understanding of the connection between the built and natural environment.
- Public art has been used to inspire community cohesion and local area regeneration.
- The Angel of the North can be used to explore the biblical and poetic significance of buildings and places.
Suggested activities
Key Stage 2 – Art and Design
The Angel of the North was designed using an image of the artist’s body. Working in small groups, draw and cast your arms and legs or those of a member of your class. You can use a range of materials, including paper mache. Use the cast, drawings and photographs to create a whole-class sculpture which can be located in your school grounds or in a classroom setting.
Key Stage 3 – English
Anthony Gormley highlights the poetic resonance of the site where the Angel of the North is located. In the past the land was used by miners who worked in the pits underground. This sombre and dark imagery can be contrasted with lightness, as signified by the angel figure. Choose a building or structure that you have visited and write a descriptive poem, using assonance, metaphor and simile to create the imagery of the place.
Key Stage 2 – Maths
The Angel of the North is constructed using a range of materials of different weights and measures. Draw a diagram to show the weights and measures that comprise the body, wings and base of the sculpture.
Region
North east
Location
Tyne Valley, near Gateshead
Contact address:
The Gallery
Central Library
Prince Consort Road
Gateshead
NE8 4LN
Accessibility
The Angel of the North is open all year round. There are parking spaces for up to 15 cars at the site. The structure is accessible from the A1 road and from the East Coast mainline route from London to Edinburgh.
