Launch of International Open Design Competition: Whitehaven Harbour Central Site

RIBA Competitions is pleased to announce the launch of a two-stage, International Open Design Competition on behalf of Britain’s Energy Coast West Cumbria and Magnus Homes. The competition, to select an architect-led team to design a circa GBP £10m mixed-use development on a prominent site adjacent to Whitehaven Harbour, is being organised with the support of Places Matter! the architecture centre for the Northwest.  

Whitehaven, situated on the Cumbrian Coast approximately 10 miles west of the Lake District National Park, is one of the most complete surviving examples of a Georgian planned town in Europe. Its character stems from the hillsides which flank the harbour, and the colourfully painted attractive buildings arranged in a grid-iron street pattern.  

Over the past decade, Whitehaven’s former working port has been transformed by the installation of a new sea lock into a thriving marina for leisure craft, with significant investment in associated public realm improvements. The redevelopment of the site presents an opportunity to continue this regeneration via the contribution of an active harbour frontage, with improved visual and pedestrian links to the town centre. The winning scheme for luxury residential apartments and office accommodation will need to set a benchmark for creative, contextual design and achieve a sustainable development of long-lasting architectural quality.

Speaking about the Competition’s launch , Sherrie Robinson (Project Manager, Britain’s Energy Coast West Cumbria) commented: ‘Whitehaven is a Georgian gem which boasts superb architecture and unique character. The development of the town and harbourside is a key element of the Britain’s Energy Coast regeneration initiative, and we will be looking for designs that demonstrate the town’s ambitions for the future while at the same time being sympathetic to its rich heritage’. 

The competition is open internationally to architect-led design teams which (at Stage 2) will also need to include the services of a structural engineer and M&E consultant, as a minimum. Architectural students who have successfully completed their RIBA Part 2 studies and are working towards their Part 3 qualification are also welcome to enter the competition. However, such applicants will need to give due consideration to a proposed delivery strategy in the event of them being short-listed and potentially being in a position to go on and win the competition.

Up to 5 schemes will be short-listed from the anonymous Stage 1 entries. Stage 2 will involve further exploration and refinement of the Stage 1 proposals, with the short-listed teams invited to attend an interview and make a presentation to the Judging Panel. Each short-listed team will receive an honorarium of £4,440 (+VAT). 

The Competition Brief and details of how to register for the competition will be available by visiting: www.riba-whitehavencentralsite.org.uk| from Wednesday 14 July 2010. Please note that registrations will close on Monday 13 September 2010, and the deadline for Stage 1 design submissions is 2.00pm on Friday 17 September 2010.