SCALA Civic Building of the Year Competition, 2005

Small Project Category Winner

The RNLI
The Life Boat Station, Mudesford

Mudeford Quay has an important fishing community and is a popular venue for tourists and locals alike. It is within a Conservation Area with a number of listed buildings immediately adjacent to the site.

The lifeboat station replaced an earlier smaller building and makes provision for a larger boat and better launching and supporting facilities. The RNLI, architects; DLM design and Bond Design Associates and Christchurch Borough Council worked in partnership to facilitate and mediate between a number of different interests on the quay.

The design paid careful consideration to the massing of built form and whilst making references to traditional details in the conservation area it uses modern materials. Its design is divided into two distinct parts; boathouse and supporting/training facilities. The two linked structures address and interact positively with the site constraints of existing buildings and provide an honesty in terms of the functionality of both parts. The careful siting has also provided the opportunity for a new civic space. The ‘boathouse’ has large windows along its flank to enable interaction with the public and add interest to the space.

The project demonstrates a commendable commitment to high quality materials and finishes in a difficult exposed position and successfully integrates a large building into a very sensitive historic location.

 

Architects:DLM Design & Bon Design Associates
Quantity Surveyor:Jonathan White & Associates Ltd
Structural Engineer:Hemsley Orrell Partnership
Contractor:Ashe Construction (Southampton) Ltd