Premier Construction

Hastings Pier

Hastings Pier
Written by Roma Publications

Hastings Pier

The 2010 destruction of Hastings Pier by fire was an opportunity to redefine what a pier could be in the 21st century; moving away from the accumulation of commercial booths of poor quality construction. The fire cleared the way for a new approach creating a generous amenity space for Hastings & St. Leonards residents and visitors from the UK and overseas. After consultation with locals and stakeholders the conclusion was that the pier would have to support many different scenarios.

Work on the redevelopment of Hastings Pier was undertaken by the Hasting Pier Charity and architects dRMM, with financial backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Heritage Lottery Fund contributed a grant of £11.4 million towards the project with a further £2.5m of funding granted from other sources and a community share issue raising £600,000.

The Heritage Lottery Fund enabled repairs to the damage below deck – a combined result of destruction from fire, sea erosion and storm damage. A small portion of the grant was used to convert the single remaining derelict Victorian Pavilion on the pier into a revitalised, open plan, fully glazed extended version of the past.

dRMM’s conceptual basis for the re-design of the pier was not to create the predictable unnecessary hero building at the end, but instead providing open space to allow universal access. The focus was on creating a well-serviced, strong platform that could support a variety of events and uses from circuses to music events, fishing to markets. Small local trading stalls in the form of classic beach huts have already arrived, setting the example for an endless range of future possibilities.

Creative use of timber is at the heart of the transformed Pier design. The new visitor centre is a 100% cross-laminated timber structure, clad in the limited timber decking that survived the 2010 fire. This reclaimed timber was also used to make the furniture on the deck, designed by dRMM and Hastings & Bexhill Wood Recycling ltd. The visitor centre has been designed as an adaptable space for indoor events, exhibitors and educational activities with an elevated belvedere on top. A glass walled, open-air ‘room’ looks out to the vast views over the Pier and beyond toward Europe, then back to the town and coast.

The Pier is an extension of the Promenade from which it projects – a public, open space. The experience of being surrounded by sea and ‘walking on water’ is heightened by the optical game set up by the louvered balustrade design and the quality of the timber deck. This is the first phase for the regeneration of Hastings Pier. Future phases include plans for a large, mobile, timber canopy that traverses the entire length of the 280m pier. In its current format the new pier is a catalyst for urban regeneration. It offers flexibility, material and functional sustainability and an uninterrupted vista of the natural built surroundings of the special seaside town of Hastings.

The project has recently been recognised in the 2017 RIBA Awards and was awarded the RIBA South East Award, South East Project Architect of the Year, RIBA South East Client of the Year and a RIBA National Award. The project has also been shortlisted for the 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize. The Stirling Prize is presented to RIBA Chartered Architects and International Fellows for buildings in the UK which have made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture over the past year. The winner of the Stirling Prize will be announced on Tuesday 31 October.

Hastings Pier

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Roma Publications