Wednesday, 9 August 2006 | Levent OZLER
Shoeburyness Outlook Buildings by Hawkins\Brown
Hawkins\Brown have completed a landmark new-build residential development for GladeDale Homes in Shoeburyness, a small seaside town located at the mouth of the Thames Estuary in South East England.
Shoeburyness was an army town until the 1980s and the ex-garrison land is now part of a major regeneration programme being implemented by Southend-on-Sea Council.
Hawkins\Brown were appointed by GladeDale Homes to develop a signature piece of architecture for phase 3 of the programme, a prestigious location neighbouring Grade II listed buildings which abuts the shore, giving spectacular views of the coastline.
Having rejected initial proposals from a local architect Steve Kearney, Head of Design at the Local Authority, enlisted the services of Hawkins\Brown to produce a quality contemporary design, which would act as a beacon for future development phases.
The shoreline location and coastal views were a determining factor in the design of the scheme, along with the consideration to provide sunlight in all the primary habitable rooms. The inclusion of outside space within the blocks remained a constant consideration throughout the development of the scheme. The ability to connect to the external environment from within the buildings was a priority.
The intention has been to create a permeable development of outlook buildings, which do not present a barrier between the shoreline and the development inland. The approach from inland reveals a family of four contemporary buildings with castellated profile, in between which offers a glimpse of a band of sea. The obstruction of cars is avoided by locating parking facilities within the blocks. Footpaths and landscaped areas lead pedestrians through the development and along the shoreline.
Although the form of the blocks differs dramatically from the neighbouring pitched roof houses, every effort has been made to anchor the blocks in their context. The materials - timber cladding and brick - have been to chosen to reflect a human scale in their proportions and modules. The 2.2m plinths that the blocks are positioned on and the stair and lift shafts are made of the same brick as the neighbouring houses.
The relationship to the sea is crucial in the scheme and has influenced the composition of the development. The line of the waves, the washed up layer soft debris, the tide markings, the parallel strips of landscaping and walkway all form a strong seductive pattern which is transferred to the brick plinths upon which the buildings sit. The vertical pattern of the panelling diverts the eye in a vertical direction to the sky.
Project Credits
Architects: Hawkins\Brown
Project Architect: Robin Adamski
Client: GladeDale Homes
Photographs: Keith Collie
Hawkins\Brown
Having been in practice for 18 years, Hawkins\Brown are among the generation of UK architects now hitting their mature stride. Current major projects include a new mixed-use civic and cultural centre for the Midlands former steel town Corby, the design of the Tottenham Court Road Crossrail interchange in central London, and the refurbishment of the UK's largest listed social housing project - Park Hill in Sheffield - which will be exhibited at the Venice Biennale 2006.
At present Hawkins\Brown are working on a substantial number of residential schemes in the UK, working with clients from the private housing sector as well as a number of housing associations. One of the practice's major developments currently on site is a £14m development of 208 key worker flats Godstone Rd, Whyteleafe, Surrey. In London the practice have received planning consent for their Two Towers scheme in Poplar, one of the highest density schemes ever approved in the capital, As a member of Building Futures Group at CABE, partner Russell Brown is actively involved in policy making in the housing design sector.
Hawkins\Brown: http://www.dexigner.com/directory/detail/7896/
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