A Public Lido, Community Hub and Charity Base

The main theme I am trying to address is the disconnection of the existing coastal path with the natural landscape. I am also looking at how you create a form that offers a public function, through the appearance of a private realm, creating a distinction between the green forested land and the rugged coastal landscape. Following the themes of connection and integration, wrapping my proposal along the route of a costal path and natural outline of the landscape could prove a strong and environmentally sensitive idea

Visiting the site, the coastal path is cut off by a road, continuing this route so it could follow a journey of both my proposal ( a hub of communal facilities and hub for a Charitable Surf School) and the natural route of terrain around Caswell Bay shaped my concept. Creating a form that can integrate into the landscape to continue the enclosed and hidden appearance would create a facility that is sensitive to the local context and intricate coastline environment.

Through the experimentation of ideas, medias and concepts, I was able to create a design which allowed these key contextual elements to occur. I then focused on how to create a space, which could be easily accessible by all user groups- correlating to the theme of inclusivity. Creating a communal facility, which adapted to the topography of the site and didn't involve an eccentric addition of building materials proved difficult but, ensuring all floors were accessible to all users, and using original site features to carve the form around the coastline( Old Boat house now Lido Central Café area) were aspects that helped fit my narrative and coastal path continuation, and create an effective passage from road to beach (the slipway). The main taking points from my project is the restoration between land and sea, documenting the key importance that a fully operational coastal path can have on a prospering coastal area. Secondly creating an inclusive community hub that wraps into the bay's form, benefitting multiple user groups. The form is compact and precisely designed, which then creates a huge area for multi purpose free use and planning, providing everything a successful beach area should be.

On reflection , the proposal and project was a good reaction to site visits and occurring issues. Creating a strong conceptual link between the underlying issues with the immediate surroundings allowed a case sensitive design output. I was able to make great strides in my conceptual thinking, turning thoughts into set narratives. However, If I had more time, I would of documented greater, the series of unique experiences that happen across the unique building/ coastal path form.