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A Unique Place
he Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the short-list in
the Birnbeck Island and Pier competition in Weston-super-Mare.
This competition received 95 entries from across the world, including Hong
TKong, Canada, Russia and the USA.
History
The Birnbeck Pier is unique to British Piers, as it links to an offshore island.
It was designed by Eugenius Birch at a cost of £20,000.
The foundation stone for Birnbeck Pier was laid on 28th October 1864. Messrs
Toogood’s ISCA iron foundry in Newport Gwent built and supplied the prefabricated
parts used in it’s construction. When completed the pier offered a 1040 ft long
promenade plus a small pavilion. The opening of the pier was considered such an
important event to the town of Weston-super-Mare, that a public holiday was permitted.
In its heyday the pier attracted numerous visitors; within the first three months of
opening, it was estimated that 120,000 peopled visited the pier.
The Birnbeck Pier and Island have seen many changes over the last hundred years
from the construction of the first lifeboat station in 1901 on the south side of the island,
to the Admiralty in 1941 taking over both the island and pier, as a weapon’s testing
facility during the second world war.
The pier has since the 1960’s had several owners who had revived the fortunes of the
pier, but unfortunately the storms of 1990 played havoc with the pier causing extensive
damage, which left the local authority with no alternative but to close the pier to the public
in 1994.
It is now an exciting time for this unique historical pier and island as they are going to
be reborn with the help of this competition organised by the RIBA and Urban Splash
working with North Somerset Council, Birnbeck Pier Regeneration Trust and the
Prince’s Regeneration Trust.
Following is a description of the schemes from the six short-listed practices for
this project:
Levitate Architecture and Design Studio
Ltd, London
“Levitate propose to rebalance development on
Birnbeck Island, by amplifying the Island’s natural
beauty. Removing unsightly decks that shroud the
island reveals natural rock. Through this Birnbeck
will be restored as a phenomenal habitat – a
complimentary alternative to the town’s busy seafront
– creating a place where people can explore rock
pools, bird watch or simply sit and watch the sunset.
Historic buildings will be restored and two linear
buildings will sit on retained concrete pads, elevated
above the rock in response to the natural environment
that remains the dominant force. A range of
residential leisure accommodation is suggested, while
on the land a terrace of town houses will provide
essential development revenue.”
Judges comment : “good rationale, well
considered scheme, liked the thought process”.
See inside back cover for Reader Enquiry Card or go online: www.adfonline.eu
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