6 beauty

the turner centre, margate Snøehetta and Stephen Spence This text is composed of excerpts from the original competition proposal prepared by Snøehetta and Stephen Spence for the Turner Centre, Margate, England. Illustrations and drawings are taken from the competition boards. This competition was prepared in August of 2001, and awarded to Snøehetta and Stephen Spence on October 31, 2001.

T he key points that configure this project — a new gallery for Turner paintings in Margate, a town that Turner spent much time painting in — are: -a distinctive new landmark building that can be seen from all parts of Margate -a reactivation of the old pier -its location on the pier that allows potential for future development of the existing site. -an elevated, fully glazed restaurant that provides the public with excellent views both back to Margate and out to the sea.

-linkage to a continuous coastal edge development -flexible gallery space, use and ease of management

THE URBAN CONTEXT

BUILDING IS TO BEVIEWED AS PART OF A CONTINOUS COASTAL EDGE DEVELOPMENT . . . The site must not be seen as a termination point, but rather only one event in a series, which run along this historic coastal edge. Only by considering the site within its overall urban context can a masterplan be developed whose influence will extend far beyond the confines of this one particular parcel of land. . . .AND PROVIDES THE ABILITY TO FREE AREAS AND RE-ORGA- NIZE THE FORT HILL ROAD TO EXTEND THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF THE TOWN With the regeneration projects underway for Margate Old Town and the Cultural Quarter the opportunity exists to re-integrate the site back into the town. This is to be primarily achieved with the removal of one of the dual carriageways that run up Fort Hill. The proposal is to remove the carriage way adjacent to the town. Currently the walk through what will be the Cultural Quarter ends abruptly with the road. If removed this would allow for the town to extend in a sympathetic way towards the site.

The site is unique in that it has both a physical connection from the land while also having a visible connection back to the land.

The view to the site, from around Margate harbour, is dominated by the Pier on which sit the Lighthouse and Droit House. They stand as distinct landmarks set against the edge of Margate town. Any option to build within the heart of the site must be carefully considered as potentially not only will it visually extend the edge of the town but also conflict with the sensitive setting of Droit House. Set against this is the brief requirement for a landmark building.

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ON SITE review 6: BEAUTY

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