Rocksalt Restaurant Folkestone, Kent Architecture, Building, Architects

Rocksalt Restaurant Folkestone Building

Rocksalt Folkestone, Kent, southeast England design by Guy Hollaway Architects, UK

14 Sep 2011

Rocksalt Restaurant Folkestone

Design: Guy Hollaway Architects

Guy Hollaway Architects’ High Profile Restaurant Is Completed

Guy Hollaway Architects’ design for Folkestone’s new high-profile restaurant – Rocksalt– has been completed. The architects’ thoughtful and well-executed design elevates the harbour-side building on a pale green slate plinth and cantilevers it out over the water, creating 430 sqm of space and offering visitors stunning views.

photos from Guy Hollaway Architects

The restaurant is approached via Folkestone’s creative quarter and through a Victorian viaduct: its curved, dark wood facade peels away from a cobbled street leading to the fish market. Set into this timber façade, slate steps lead up past angled reveals which look into the restaurant’s kitchen and beyond to the sea.

The selection of tactile materials including larch and slate, and the scale of the building, both resonate with the vernacular- referencing the black painted weatherboarding in the immediate context.

Beyond the restaurant is a slipway where Folkestone’s small fishing fleet lands its fresh catch. The fish market area is much used and the restaurant also provides a public bench above the jetty. At water level, timber dolphin piles protect the building from straying boats.

On the ground floor glass doors allow uninterrupted, panoramic views of the fishing boats at high tide and lead onto the curved and cantilevered balcony made from zinc soffit (and an extension of the curved ceiling). The first floor bar opens fully to an afternoon sun terrace (the sun’s progress having been carefully tracked and maximised in the use of space) which offers elevated views over a pebble strewn roof terrace to the viaduct and across the harbour to the English Channel.

The design exemplifies Guy Hollaway Architect’s consistent pursuit of subtle, simple design solutions that contribute to or enhance a strong sense of place and are immediately enjoyable.

Rocksalt has been realised in time for it to take centre stage in the town’s flourishing arts and culture festival- the Triennial (until 25th September) but it is designed as a destination restaurant which will continue to attract visitors to Folkestone.

In this it is a key part of the on-going regeneration of the seafront and harbour area (which is masterplanned by Sir Terry Farrell and largely funded by Roger de Haan and the Creative Foundation). The practice worked with restaurant specialists, Stiff + Trevillion and the head chef is Mark Sargeant, former head chef at Claridges.

Guy Hollaway Architects

Guy Hollaway Architects (formerly CTM Architects LLP) is a RIBA award-winning architectural practice that has a strong reputation for high quality design. Located in London and on the south east coast, the practice undertakes regional work but also competes on a national level. An unwavering pursuit of the right solution means that they strive for simple, yet subtle designs that work and are enjoyed by end users, and ultimately contribute to the context of place.

Rocksalt Folkestone information issued on behalf of Guy Hollaway Architects, formerly CTM Architects by Stratton & Reekie

Location: Folkestone, Kent, England, UK

English Architecture

English Architecture Design – chronological list

Kent Buildings

A recent Kent building by Guy Hollaway Architects:

Curious Brewery, Ashford, Kent, Southeast England, UK
Architect: Guy Hollaway Architects

photo courtesy of architects
Curious Brewery Ashford Building