Reconnecting Points

Known as the venue of Britain’s last invasion in 1797, Fishguard and Goodwick are two coastal towns in North Pembrokeshire in west Wales. Fishguard was first established as a Norse trading port in 1000 AD, then became a herring fishing port at the old harbour in Lower Fishguard in the Middle Ages. With the installation of a railway station and ferry port, Fishguard and Goodwick have recently become the essential link to Rosslare in Ireland from Fishguard Ferry Port at Fishguard Harbour. This seems to undermine the community’s unique character by being overlooked due to the recent development of transportation.

Therefore, the project explores architecture to revive the towns with the sea, reconnecting the community, culture and commerce. Even though Fishguard sits next to the ocean and has a nature reserve, where both being a habitat of a wealth of wildlife, the twin towns are not adopted as part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which lies along the whole Pembrokeshire coast in west Wales, established in 1952. It causes a disconnection between Fishguard and Goodwick and the adjacent national parks. Moreover, the closure of the boardwalk in Goodwick Moor (a 15-hectare marshland) to prevent additional disturbance to the wildlife due to the severe damage caused by horse riders and dog walkers hindered the locals from accessing the natural landscape.

Therefore, one of the proposed intentions is to revitalise the marshland in a wildlife-friendly way and provide visitors access to the coastal landscape. Unlike the marshland, visitors have many opportunities to explore the North Pembrokeshire coast, such as kayaking facilities and coastal walks. Still, these marine facilities are scattered across the twin towns. Hence, another design intention is to offer a focal point of marine facilities. In general, the project will be divided into four parts, the marine centre (1), community pavilion (2), boardwalk (3), birdwatching tower (3) as well as transition cafe (4). (see strategy plans) The Boatyard consists of educational spaces and a wet dock (water taxis station, boat tour station and kayaking facilities). The boat station kayaking facilities allow visitors to explore the North Pembrokeshire coastline through boat and kayaking tours. To provide a breathing space throughout the route, the Goodwick Pavilion (2) is placed at the start of Goodwick East breakwater. It serves as a resting space for visitors from the adjacent Pembrokeshire coast national park and a unique community space for locals to gather. The Observatory (3) is connected to the pavilion through the boardwalk, which ends at the TBG Transition Cafe (4).

The whole scheme reconnects with the existing national park and makes the natural landscape accessible to the locals again.