Member Article

Architects celebrate their seafront success

THE designers behind Redcar’s dazzling new seafront have revisited the town to see their vision come to life.

The new promenade and landmark ‘Vertical Pier’ are just part of Redcar & Cleveland Council’s £75 million-plus regeneration project breathing new life into Redcar and redefining it as a place to visit.

Four years ago, landscape architect Kate Curtis who works for Smeeden Foreman, won a design competition, run by national architecture organisation RIBA, to shape a showcase seafront for the town.

For the ambitious project, Smeeden Foreman teamed up with partners including Seven Architecture, where architect Lisa McFarlane came up with the design for the iconic focus of the scheme – the Vertical Pier.

And Kate and Lisa say it’s fantastic to see their designs translated into reality in head-turning style.

Kate said: “There is still a lot of work to do and finishing touches to put in place, such as the shelters, lighting and the public art but it’s really something to see it coming together.”

A major public consultation was launched to determine what the public and visitors wanted from their new-look seaside.

“That was extremely important, because everyone has a lot of memories of days at the seaside, and you need to take that into consideration,” said Kate.

“We’ve talked to local people and visitors all the way through the project, and also looked at archive pictures to gain more background.

“The key to the design was in the idea of bringing the beach onto the promenade, and taking inspiration from the things that are already there, such as the fishing boats.”

Increasing the number of visitors to the resort was a major priority, so the seafront needed something special that would provide a unique tourist draw.

“We knew from the technical sections of the brief that it would be impossible to take a pier out beyond the sea wall at anywhere near a realistic cost, so we decided to take it up into the air instead, and that’s how the ‘Vertical Pier’ was born,” said Kate.

Lisa said: “As we developed the design, it became apparent that the building provided an opportunity to accommodate elements such as creative art studios to take advantage of the amazing views and the number of visitors.

“We also developed the concept of the architectural foil that wraps round and round the tower.

“The building is a recognition of Redcar’s steel heritage, and the foils frame a different view on each floor which makes it quite exciting to climb the tower – and the view from the top out to sea and back over the town is amazing.”

Like Kate, she is delighted with the way the project is turning out.

“The contractors, Willmott Dixon, have fully understood the need for quality, and for creating a robust building. The building has to stand up to a lot of challenges – including high winds, salt and sand erosion!” she said.

The seafront zone has been designed to be fun no matter what the British weather can bring.

Kate said: “For instance, the water plaza will be used on rainy days in cagoules and on sunny days in flip-flops. It’s opening up a longer season for visitors, and the lighting features will also extend visiting time into the evening.

“I got out of my car the other day at the first part of the development that’s open, and there were people fishing, walking and talking to each other, and children on scooters. It was everything I hoped it would be.”

Cllr Olwyn Peters, of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said it was exciting to see the Sea Front Zone evolving.

“Since Victorian times, Redcar has had a fine tradition of entertaining visitors to a great day out,” she said.

“This outstanding and beautiful development brings the town back to the forefront of seaside enjoyment, putting a thoroughly modern slant on all the traditional things we enjoy about a day at the beach.

“Lots of people have lovely memories of spending time at Redcar seafront – and now a new generation of visitors can find memories of their own.”

* The project is part funded by the council, One North East and the European Regional Development Fund 2007 – 2013.

Caption: (L to R) Lisa with Cllr Olwyn Peters and Kate.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ian Benet .