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| Creating a legacy, Hastings Pier, Image from dRMM |
This year's RIBA Stirling Prize has been awarded to dRMM - led by Architects Alex de Rijke, Philip Marsh and Sadie Morgan for their project, Hastings Pier.
The Stirling Prize identifies the UK's best new building, each year, it is now in it's 22nd year. Past winners of the award include Caruso St John Architects, AHMM, Haworth Tompkins and Stanton Williams to name a few examples! Each practice is well established in their own right, with a portfolio of successful projects to be proud of.
The judging criteria includes design vision, innovation, originality, capacity to stimulate, engage, delight occupants/visitors, accessibility, sustainability, client satisfaction and how fit the building is for it's purpose.
The nominees for this year are:
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Barretts Grove by Amin Taha + Groupwork for Nick Grant, Image from Dezeen.com |
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| The British Museum World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre by Rogers Stirk + Partners for the British Museum, Image from archdaily.com |
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City of Glasgow College - City Campus by Reiach and Hall Architects
and Michael Laird Architects for City of Glasgow College,
Image from architectsjournal.co.uk
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| Command of the Oceans by Baynes and Mitchell Architects for Chatham Historic Dockyard, Image from dezeen.com |
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| Hastings Pier by dRMM for Hastings Pier Charity, Image from architectsjournal.co.uk |
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| Photography Studio by 6a architects for Juergen Teller LTD, Image from 6a Architects |
The Hastings Pier originally opened in 1872, it was closed to the public in 2006 over fears of safety and it was largely destroyed by a horrific fire in 2010. Hastings Pier Charity invited a host of architects to submit designs for a redevelopment of the once attractive structure.
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| A neglected piece of history, image from http://www.urban75.org/blog |
dRMM won the design competition and began a collaboration with the charity, which lasted 7 years. A crowdfunding campaign raised £590,000 towards the £14.2 million restoration project, whilst the remainder of the funds came from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The crowdfunding element is particularly interesting, as this is what urged the title of the People's Pier to the project, the community has a sense of ownership over the redevelopment.
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| The Pavilion, Image from archdaily.com |
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| The deck, Image from dRMM |
The Pier has been transformed from a ruin, a century-old pier, into a beacon of community spirit and a flexible community space. The layout consists largely of an empty deck with a small pavilion at the centre and a staircase leads onto the rooftop. There is a sympathetic quality to the details of the project, reclaimed timber planks from the original deck have been used to clad the pavilion in a diagonal pattern. Remaining timbers were used to create furniture as part of a local employment initiative.
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| Old and New, Image from architectsjournal.co.uk |
The Pavilion has been placed at the centre of the deck, as opposed to the end, the Pavilion is a mere element of a larger concept. This is a celebration of old and new, the original iron structure stands at the edge of the pier, to be admired.
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| Enjoy the view, Image from architectsjournal.co.uk |
The form of the pier is not without great function, the large protruding deck is a stage to an endless amount of possibilities for "relaxation, contemplation and play", as quoted by Maria Ludkin from Hastings Pier Charity. It's a 21st Century solution for a seaside town, in need of regeneration.
To finish, here is a short film released by the AJ, in conversation with dRMM's Alex de Rijke:
