Helensburgh Pier Competition, Argyll and Bute Design Contest, Winner, Image

Helensburgh Competition, Scotland : Argyll and Bute Contest

RIAS Student Competition – Argyll and Bute, Scotland

9 Apr 2008

RIAS Helensburgh Competition

Scottish Architectural Students ‘Pier’ into the Future

RIAS Information

Winning entries for dynamic redevelopment of Helensburgh Pier announced

picture from architect

A Neopolitan of timber clad pier, landscaped recreation and shielded car parking, a ‘Garden of Eden’, a Royal Festival Hall on Helensburgh Pier, a celebration of the water’s edge, a house of fun and a thought provoking apocalyptic vision of global warming are amongst the winning entries for an open student architectural competition organised by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland on behalf of Helensburgh and District Civic Society.

The competition sought new ideas from students of the six schools of Scottish architecture for the dynamic redevelopment of Helensburgh Pier for public enjoyment. The aim was to encourage concepts which will revitalise the pier environment and enhance the town’s seafront by distinctive, innovative designs which could allow present long established public uses for leisure, recreation and tourism to continue but in an attractive, high quality and appealing setting.

The brief sought ideas for a new swimming pool, restaurant, car parking, open space for public events, sea views, a fun fair, children’s play area and skate board facility.

A prize fund of £3,000 is to be shared amongst the winning entrants. Architect David Page will present the prizes at a reception, attended by Provost William Petrie and Neil Baxter, RIAS Secretary & Treasurer, at Helensburgh Lawn Tennis Clubhouse on 9th April. The evening will also highlight the launch of an exhibition of all the entries in the gallery of Helensburgh Library from 10th – 24th April.

The winning entry (detail, pictured left) was designed by Logan Doak, who studied at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture at The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen and is currently working at Atkins Global on a year out. His proposal features a contemporary timber-clad pier, landscaped recreation area and shielded car parking, aligned with the town grid.

picture from architect

The judges praised the entrants on the diversity of solutions offered. However, they agreed that the winning scheme was the most resolved, visionary yet practical of the solutions on offer. The judges congratulate Logan Doak on his winning design and commend this competition to the people of Helensburgh as an important catalyst towards a major reappraisal of the town’s seafront.

“The RIAS was delighted to support this competition. Visionary ideas enliven the debate and our student members have demonstrated a very positive engagement with Helensburgh’s future,” said Arnie Dunn, President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

“We are delighted with the quality and number of entries for the competition,” commented Findlay McQuarrie of the Civic Society. “We set the students a difficult challenge and they have responded with original proposals for the Helensburgh pier area. The winning entries are worthy of serious study.”

The Helensburgh & District Civic Society will submit and champion the winning design concept as the preferred way forward to the Argyll & Bute Council, The Helensburgh Partnership and other relevant bodies.

Helensburgh (2001 pop 14626) is an attractive seaside town situated on the north bank of the Firth of Clyde against the background of the Glen Fruin Hills. It grew up in the 19 century as a residential town for well-to-do Glasgow merchants, but later became popular as a tourist destination, particularly for Glasgow visitors.

It is an early example of a “garden city” layout with many fine villas designed by distinguished Scottish architects, notable amongst them being Charles Rennie Mackintosh who designed the internationally acclaimed Hill House.

The panel of judges included architects of national standing, Douglas Read, Past President RIAS, of Dignan, Read and Dewar, Edinburgh and David N Page, of Page and Park, Glasgow, – both of whom have links with Helensburgh – and Terry Levinthal, Director of the Scottish Civic Trust. The panel also included Anne Urquhart, Secretary of the Lomond and Clyde Tourist Association, Gordon Tran, of Helensburgh Community Council and Jack Rudram, of the Civic Society.

The Pier area is currently designated in the 1990 Dumbarton District Wide Local Plan for leisure, recreation, tourism and community uses. The emerging Argyll and Bute Local Plan proposes to re-designate the pier area as “town centre” and identifies it as an Area for Action (AFA). Whilst a supermarket has been expressly deleted from the AFA other town centre uses remain possible under the proposed designation.

This “town centre” designation has been objected to by the Civic Society and the Helensburgh Community Council who wish to retain the current zoning for leisure, recreation, tourism and community uses. The matter is now with the Local Plan Inquiry Reporter for resolution

Judging commenced on this RIAS Competition, announcement due 31 Mar

Jan 2008

Helensburgh Pier Competition

ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITION FOR HELENSBURGH PIER

New ideas for the dynamic redevelopment of Helensburgh Pier for public enjoyment are being sought by Helensburgh and District Civic Society.

In an exciting initiative, the Civic Society has enlisted the support of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) in organising an open architectural competition for students.

The competition with a prize fund of £3000 has been launched to students in the six Scottish schools of architecture.

The aim is to encourage entries that have the potential to revitalise the pier environment and enhance the town’s seafront by distinctive, innovative designs which could allow present long established public uses for leisure, recreation and tourism to continue – but in an attractive, high quality and appealing setting. The brief (downloadable from www.rias.org.uk) seeks ideas for a new swimming pool, restaurant, adequate car parking, open space for public events, sea views, a fun fair, children’s play area and skate board facility.

Entrants are being told that the pier area should make a positive contribution towards the regeneration of the town by transforming it to become an attraction for residents and a destination for visitors.

The panel of judges will include architects of national standing, Douglas Read, Past President RIAS, of Dignan, Read and Dewar, Edinburgh and David N Page, of Page and Park, Glasgow, – both of whom have links with Helensburgh – and Terry Levinthal, Director of the Scottish Civic Trust. Local judges will be Anne Urquhart, Secretary of the Lomond and Clyde Tourist Association, Gordon Tran, of Helensburgh Community Council and Jack Rudram, of the Civic Society. It is proposed to put the winning entry on display for comments by the people of Helensburgh.

“Other towns have benefited from design competitions and we believe that Helensburgh, which possesses distinguished public and domestic buildings, should inspire exciting leisure buildings that could add lustre to a seafront regarded as the “jewel in Helensburgh’s crown,” said Findlay McQuarrie, of the Civic Society.

Arnie Dunn President of the RIAS, said: “The RIAS is delighted that the competition will tap into the creative talents of the next generation of architects. The design challenge for the most prominent site in Helensburgh is one that will be relished. The results will, I am sure, produce ideas which will be of assistance to all who are interest in seeing improvements to the seafront.”

Mr Terry Levinthal, Director of the Scottish Civic Trust, said: “The Scottish Civic Trust welcomes this initiative by the Civic Society. This competition will provide an exciting opportunity to influence how Helensburgh develops, and will help inform the public and decision-takers. It demonstrates the positive influence that a Civic Society can have on their community.”

Enquiries to:
Findlay McQuarrie – 01436 678725 findlay.mcquarrie@googlemail.com
0131 229 75445

Location: Scotland