The second of our featured poetry commissions can be found at Sheraton Park in Durham. This is a 418 bedroom scheme designed by Howarth Litchfield architects. Since the development was surrounded by residential houses Alumno were very concerned that the local residents should be happy with the design

David Campbell, Alumno’s managing director ” A key component in our evolution and growth has been thorough and detailed planning together with close consultation. This was very evident at Sheraton Park where we worked very closely at every stage with all the residents and key stakeholders. This ensured our plans were fully inclusive and that we listened to the community and developed a deep-rooted understanding of what was required.

“Sheraton Park offers its end -users a premium blend of student accommodation within an highly attractive environment and we reinterpreted much of the original character whilst maintaining much of the history of the existing site . The sensitive development of the site is predominantly landscape led and the proposals recreated a semi-wild parkland within the confines of the local environment.”

As well as sculptures within the landscaped areas by artists from China, Italy and America (these are the countries where most of Durham`s international students come from) there is also poetry by local poet Ira Lightman. Ira decided to compose a poem welcoming visitors. And on each panel he decided to say hello in a different language. The scheme was completed in 2017 and has had positive comments from local residents as well as the students there.

The full poem can be read below …

Call the journey a bubble

When in the middle

It becomes hospitable

歡迎

A warm memory

Rounded and happy

You share with me

Buongiorno

Mouth in a circle

The o of hello will

Go to give cheerful

Hi! How are you doing?

Welcome to pilgrims

Grown from a glimpse

Seen in the distance

Salam alaykum

A glimpse of a bubble

Even when small

Already a soul

Guten Tag

Awaited with decency

Decency has to be

You don’t turn me away

Fáilte

I don’t turn you away

I don’t turn me away

You don’t turn you away

Γειά σας

The bubble expands

A magnifying lens

Both ways intense

Merhaba

Trying it your way

Trying it my way

Fairway

konnichiwa

Roadway

Railway

Airway

“WE THE WORLD ARE WAYS AND WORDS AND WARMTH OF WELCOME WRESTING WHY WE ARE WHO WE ARE WHAT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE”