Five picked for £10m Whitehaven scheme
FIVE architectural practices have had their proposals for the redevelopment of the Mark House and Park Nightclub site at Whitehaven’s harbour side shortlisted in a design competition being run by the Royal Institution of British Architects (RIBA).
Britain’s Energy Coast West Cumbria and Magnus Homes are looking for an architectural practice to design a £10m mixed-use scheme on the site which will include office accommodation and luxury residential apartments.
Some 139 submissions for schemes were received by the organisers with ideas displayed to local residents, but the The five shortlisted firms are Austin-Smith Lord, Renato Sarno Group/Proginvest, Richard Murphy Architects, RMJM Scotland and ShedKM Architects.
Frank Lowe, programme director at Magnus Homes, said: “I was astounded by the response to the competition and visited the exhibition on numerous occasions ahead of the judging session so that I could absorb the various approaches proposed for our site.
“The five schemes we selected all have the potential to create exceptional developments which will transform the harbour side.”
Stephen Hodder, one of the judges on the panel which has shortlisted the entries, said: “The five short-listed schemes in their different ways integrate the town with the harbour front in an appropriate, but contemporary way. I am convinced that any of the schemes could become a worthy addition to Whitehaven”.
The second stage of the competition will involve a a refinement of the ideas, which will be continue to displayed in the town as part of a public exhibition until next month, when the judging panel will reconvene to pick a winner at the end of November.
