October 2010

The site presents a unique opportunity to revive Whitehaven’s former working port into an important part of this special town.

Whitehaven is one of the finest examples of planned Georgian architecture in Europe. Inspired by the local heritage of Whitehaven; our submission focused on a contemporary design solution to respect the existing conditions.

The design emphasises the local character of the townscape. Just as St James church and Whitehaven Castle mark the eastern edges of the town; the proposed project marks the border between the harbour and the old town, acting as a threshold between the two.

With an approximate budget of £10m, the project consists of 42 waterfront facing apartments, including 3 penthouses and over 5000m2 of commercial area.

At night time, the passer-by will see the glowing orbs of the lantern like light fittings.  The glow against the charcoal paint and wood creates a cosy atmosphere and attracts would-be-customers to this new café destination. Cost effective, yet design conscious solutions were also achieved.

The space was redesigned to highlight the strengths of its existing features. White painted cladding, which spanned an entire back wall, and other existing materials were re-used.  The white paint was stripped off the cladding and transformed into a warm rustic wood feature.  The floors were polished and coated with resin that reflected the ambient light.

The materials are raw and expressive, the design elements combining to create an architectural language reminiscent of its industrial heritage, juxtaposed with swatches of bright colour.

The display suite is scheduled to open in December 2010.