Trendreport
AWASH WITH DESIGN
GUY HOLLAWAY CONSIDERS HOW ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION IS REGENERATING BRITAIN’S COASTLINE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PUTTING BACK INTO COASTAL TOWNS
THE POWER OF INNOVATIVE ARCHITECTURE COMBINED WITH DESIRABLE LIFESTYLE OFFERINGS IS THE KEY TO FUELLING REGIONAL RESURGENCE. THIS IS THE PHILOSOPHY DRIVING COASTAL BRITAIN’S GLORIOUS RENAISSANCE, AN INITIATIVE THAT HAS SEEN A DECADE OF RAMPANT REGENERATION ALONG ARGUABLY BRITAIN’S MOST EXQUISITE SHORELINE.
At the heart of this rebirth are the towns of Margate and Folkestone in East Kent. As two of the nation’s most iconic seaside destinations, a groundbreaking range of architectural and design projects are spearheading greater investment and relocation in the region. Amongst these is the flagship revival of Margate’s Dreamland amusement park, a collaboration between Guy Hollaway Architects and designer Wayne Hemingway. Once the jewel in the South-East’s crown, the 16-acre
42 Architects Choice July 2014
park thrilled the generations of yesteryear, whilst also playing host to the likes of The Rolling Stones and The Who. Now a £10m regeneration will see the venue gain the status of the world’s first heritage amusement park, with 600,000 visitors predicted in its first year. By re-establishing Dreamland at the forefront of the world’s entertainment destinations, this architectural initiative is delivering a major economic and cultural boost to the town too. As an architect, I sometimes hear the argument that certain architectural ventures prioritise aesthetic pleasantry over substance. But for the people of Margate and Folkestone, these buildings are more than just a pretty face. Projects such as these are injecting energy and opportunity, acting as catalysts for economic growth and prosperity. Take the Turner Contemporary gallery for example, which last
year celebrated its millionth visitor, in the three years since its founding the gallery has generated well over £20m for the local economy, with a return of £6 for every £1 invested. An equally unique development is Folkestone Academy, the first school in the country to feature a maximum occupancy of 20 pupils per class. The Academy sits in one of the county’s most deprived wards; by reducing class sizes from the average of 30, pioneering design is helping ensure children receive the attention they deserve and setting the benchmark for future school designs. When it comes to regeneration, there are no one size fits all templates however. Each development is a personalised and tailored, and in the cases of Folkestone and Margate, both are taking very different paths. For the former, with the help of prominent philanthropist Roger de Haan, a holistic
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