Output details

Lincoln Coastal Observatory

The project is a research-led, practice-based design work. Following success in an international competition (2008) for the design of a coastal art gallery/observatory/visitor centre in Lincolnshire, Jones was invited (2011) to compete for its realisation, when the Arts Council, Lincolnshire Council and Wild-Planet formed a partnership to build the centre at Chapel- St- Leonard. Professor Jones led the successful proposal (with Surface+Light+Space Architects) from which the client demanded innovative and sustainable solutions (e.g. an ability to withstand future sea-level rises) and a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating for sustainable design and construction. His design provides an innovative solution to mitigate against an uncertain future, due to rising sea levels. The proposal is highly prefabricated, and autonomous - generating its energy needs from renewables. The research questions, methodology, process, and dissemination are summarised here but evidenced more fully in the visual/textual support accompanying this output in .pdf format. A beach location required the ability to withstand storm force winds and tidal swells without the guarantee of protection from the dunes. Use of prefabrication and structural techniques borrowed from off-shore engineering has enabled maximum resilience against high winds and has reduced planned construction time. At the same time the building is designed to be lightweight and elegant. As part of the sustainability strategy and through intelligent use of Building Information Modelling techniques, both embodied and operational energy have been minimised (the former still being a relatively rare consideration in building designs). Dissemination of the design and the underpinning research has been through local government websites (e.g. http://www.skegnessstandard.co.uk/news/local/observatory-will-be-jewel-in-the-crown-1-52813930 and national press (http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/northumbria-university-watch-and-go/413876.article) . A forthcoming article in the journal ‘Structural Survey’ will engage a wider academic audience. In 2014, once the building is complete, there will be further dissemination to a global professional audience through architectural journals and websites.