38 PROJECT REPORT


© Sally Masson Photography


© Sally Masson Photography


Leas,” he says. Tying into this aesthetic was fundamental for the project’s success, with the team wanting to design something that “belonged to Folkestone.” He continues: the “crafted” facade acts as a hard shell with all external elements being of the highest specification possible to endure the marine environment.” In total over 2 brick ‘specials’ were used, individually cut to fit the curves and contours of the building. The result is a glistening facade that reects the sun and sea in sync with local weather patterns,” says Denner. In addition, he says, “a playful interpretation of clinker brick sits within the concave rhythms of the south facade, where individual shaped bricks are pulled forward to create interest and animation.”


Other facade finishes were considered during the design process on their potential aesthetic merits, but disregarded when they were shown to fall short on durability credentials in this location. “Materiality was explored thoroughly, always considering solutions that would adapt to curved geometry while also considering costs and the installation and application process,” says Denner. “Pebbledash and crushed glass render were considered but a mock-up onsite showed they weren’t as enduring to the strong winds and salt in the air.” He adds however that as a “tectonic element,” the bricks’ glazed finish is efficient in repelling the moisture and salt, ageing much better over time and requiring very little maintenance.”


A PILE OF CHALLENGES


Shoreline was constructed using a reinforced concrete frame, which sits upon foundations consisting of over 200 piles, and there are also marine


WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK


grade wall ties and stainless steel frame elements. The reinforced masonry frame is “the same material used on deep sea oil rigs for longevity and sustainability,” explains Martin Sandall, managing director of contractor Jenner, who also built the exciting F51 project for De Haan nearby – a multi-storey concrete and steel skate park and gym designed by Guy Hollaway.


The steel for Shoreline was specially designed for the curved facades, and all metal used externally is stainless. The building’s at roofs are covered in shingle pebbles to not only provide a visual connection to the beach but also deter seagulls from nesting. This has been taken a step further by the regular ying of hawks from the penthouse terraces to scare them off.


The foundation piles were driven to a depth of 2 metres which, explains Sandall, makes the building almost as deep as it is high. These works began just before Covid hit, which naturally brought challenges but also some unexpected benefits for the team. Because construction was in the early stages and still outdoors, work was able to continue uninterrupted, in line with lockdown rules. However, it wasn’t long until the project team began to find huge boulders beneath the site. “Some were as large as double decker buses, which the original piling rig couldn’t handle,” explains Sandall. In a stroke of luck, the largest piling rig in Europe – “typically booked months in advance” – was immediately available due to reduced demand during the pandemic. This enabled what could have been an insurmountable obstacle to the schedule to be removed. Alongside piling issues, the curved design of the building meant construction


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84