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MIMA - A sneak preview

By Natalie Boxall

It's not open until Autumn 2006, but we managed to gain access to see how MIMA is progressing.

After being issued with a hard hat and reinforced wellies, Godfrey Worsdale from MIMA took me on a sneak preview of the building in December 2005.

We started the tour by a huge door which is designed for "high value art will be driven into, and won’t be removed from the vehicles until the doors are firmly closed."

What MIMA will look like

Moving round the site to the front of the building, Godfrey says, “This is a twist on typical modern architecture by project architect Erik van Egeraats.”

“The whole frontage wall leans over at one degree and people from Middlesbrough will have a building where they go for free and actually got to the top and see where they live.”

Inside the first gallery, even though it’s nowhere near finished, it feels very grand.

This is because it’s an extremely high space (18 meters tall), which has a Durham Cathedral feel.” says Godfrey.

We climb up one of the most important parts, the staircase, which cuts the building into two diagonally.

I manage to bang my head on the scaffolding, and am thankful for the hard hat.

New benches outside MIMA

Godfrey fills me in on why this is an integral part of the building, “It (the staircase) goes from the bottom left hand right up to the top and shoots out onto the roof terrace and people will be able to look into the building and see how those inside interact with the space from the outside.”

We move up the stairs and out onto the roof terrace.

I can see a massive space below, where diggers are working away, on the public square which includes a fountain which will shoot out 100 jets of water into the air, and will no doubt be popular once Summer comes.

From up here, you can see the gothic architecture of the Town Hall mixed with the grey concrete roof of the police station.

Behind that is an ornate mosque roof which stands above rows of terraced house, and all of this is surrounded by the beauty of the Cleveland Hills.

This view just shows what a diverse and interesting area we live in, and it’s completely different view from the one you’re used to on the ground.

So, is this what Middlesbrough has been waiting for? Godfrey thinks so. “It heralds an exciting time for the area, as the more of these developments you get, the more you get following, and I think MIMA and the new public square will help with this progress.”

last updated: 04/03/2009 at 11:07
created: 09/01/2006

Have Your Say

Teza
im a 15 year old lad born in middlesbrough wwas their at the opening but i have to say that man is it rubbish its the most pointless peice of rubbish that we only go to to get out of the rain and even wen we look at the art we get kicked out. If you go to the outside were me and my friends hang out on saturdays we cant do it no more cause all of the wardens and stuff. So if you want someones veiw then come to the mima and talk to the kids outside im sure they could give you a better outing than this stupid rubbish art gallery

Tony
Been to MIMA, its Great. Some of the art is wierd but extraudinary.

A.D.McGREGOR
Some people may have some negative comments about NEMA but isn't great to see some excellent artists works in our area.

carl mole dent
i think mima was a marvellous idea and cant wait to visit it

Caroline Brown
Great stuff Middlesbrough! I'm from near Leeds, and I'm dead chuffed that I'll be able to get on the train to go and see some fantastic art at MIMA. Can't wait.

charlette
very good idea well done!!!!

Rhet
This building and it's purpose, will hopefuly be a catalyst for future artistic development in the town.

Gavin
"Brussels' Grand Place it isn't", as some perhaps spurious jibes will go - and yet, as a Middlesbrough-born 19-year old whose wellbeing hinges on drawing and painting and not leisurely guiding a pig bladder across the turf, it's as good as as a given that I'm looking forward to the arrival of our latest artistic "stadia", and that its success in redirecting a community will be instrumental. Such fruits as these (mima, the possible reuses in coming years of Acklam Hall and the Empire, the Dorman's reopening etc.) borne from the 'Tees Pride' crusade appear to have proved immaculately timed - sufficient insurance policy in the event of said footballers not scaling the heights of a European final this year. Not that, whisper it, something like 'that' was ever likely to transpire...

Ray Man
Looks great. All we now need is somewhere for all the predicted visitors and residents to be able to park before they give up trying and go home!

Claire
MIMA is an excellent idea and looks like a great building, its time Middlesbrough had some where to show of its art work and our culture and this is a good step forward to doing that. If it gets our talented students and artists to stay in this region and not move away to places like Leeds and Manchester then why don't we all support it when it opens. Middlesbrough loses to many 'talented' people because the work and atmosphere they need isn't around in our town. One day I wanna say I'm from Middlesbrough and not just get 'oh the football club' or ICI wilton comments. Lets just hope the daft charvas don't ruin for the rest of us who are proud of our little town.

J'
i think PJK is right, with attitude's like Geoff's it will be a flop, the more visitors, the better quality of art that will be presented, which means more visitors and more money for the area, meaning more development! and u never know Geoff we might even get a new bridge!

lee
Geoff obviously wants everybody in Middlesbrough to wear flat caps ,live in back to back terraces and work in the steelworks.GET A GRIP!!!!! We are in the 21st century ,industrial Middlesbrough is long gone. MIMA is a flagship development that shouts we have come of age. Well done Middlesbrough council!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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