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Artworks
Studio Reiver
Forgotten Promenade TriptychDigital mixed media30 x 110 x 5 cm£ 500.00Further images
Studio Reiver are a group of architects who work on a volunteer basis to help local communities, charities, and education organisations develop and realise low budget, environmentally low-impact, transformative projects....Studio Reiver are a group of architects who work on a volunteer basis to help local communities, charities, and education organisations develop and realise low budget, environmentally low-impact, transformative projects. These three views depict a speculative proposal made in collaboration with residents, local community groups and schools for the reclamation of an abandoned, but historically significant promenade for public use and community activities. The views have been used to instigate conversations with the local authorities and as a basis for describing the proposals in applications for funding. We have proposed a phased strategy for the transformative reclamation of the promenade, which is to be implemented as and when funding becomes available. Initial works will make the site more accessible and inclusive, with new lighting and repairs to existing steps and rampways. From there, the site will be developed as three ‘landscape territories’ - ‘cliff face’; hard-standings’; and ‘red-walk’ - informed by the existing features and ‘spatial structure’ of the site. Each ‘landscape territory’ will be densely re-planted with local (and sometimes endangered plant species) that thrive in coastal environments, greatly improving the overall biodiversity of the site. The existing qualities of the site will be further intensified by a series of low-cost, low-maintenance and environmentally low-impact interventions which collectively make the site more accessible. Recycled infrastructural pipework will be used to create containerised tree planting, low level lighting, sheltered areas of seating, and kiosks for selling hot drinks and food. Pathways, borders, and planted landforms or ‘spoil heaps’ will be made from aggregate removed from other areas of the site to eliminate material waste from any building works. Proposals will be realised and maintained by the community, relieving local authorities of the burden of the site, which, despite its prominence, has been identified as problematic and left to ruin. As part of this initiative, local schools, forest schools, and outdoor learning organisations will assume guardianship of certain areas of the site with its upkeep included as part of their extended curricula.