Richard Murphy Architects won the competition to redevelop the Mark House and Park Nightclub site, which lies adjacent to Whitehaven harbour.

This mixed-use development of luxury residential apartments and high quality office accommodation will continue the dramatic transformation of Whitehaven’s former working port which has taken place over the past decade.

The Judging Panel consisted of representatives from Britain’s Energy Coast West Cumbria, Copeland Borough Council, Magnus Homes, Places Matter! and Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, together with Stephen Hodder (Hodder + Partners, Manchester) acting as the RIBA Architect Adviser. Richard Murphy’s scheme was selected from a strong shortlist which also included design proposals developed by Austin-Smith Lord LLP; Renato Sarno Group Srl and Proginvest Srl; RMJM Scotland Ltd and ShedKM Architects. The five teams having been short-listed from 139 entries submitted from around the globe to the first stage of the competition.

The Judging Panel felt that Richard Murphy’s scheme presented a very clever working of the plan and the proposed cluster arrangement would generate a rhythm appropriate to the urban grain of Whitehaven and massing of other existing developments on the harbour-side. The former Bath House building was successfully incorporated into the design proposals, which would provide a memorable roofline silhouette against the backdrop of the hills surrounding the town and stunning panoramic views of the harbour from each apartment.