Grand Pier Pavilion Design Exhibition
Six firms of architects have put forward ideas for a 21st century pier attraction to be built at Weston-super-Mare just eight weeks after the historic pavilion was destroyed by fire.
The owners of the Weston Grand Pier are now studying the designs, which are on display in the H20 bar in the town’s Winter Gardens for people to view and comment on. Four Bristol-based architects: Stride Treglown, Acanthus Ferguson Mann, Angus Meek and AWW have produced ideas along with two from London: Grimshaw and Ray Hole.
Please let us know what you think about the design proposals for the new Grand Pier Pavilion by filling out the comments form at the bottom of the page.
Design Proposals
Angus Meek Proposal
The design for the new pavilion has drawn inspiration from a wide range of sources which reflect the excitement of seaside entertainment, forms which relate to a marine location and the attractions of time spent for pleasure.The traditional pier usually comprises a balanced, composed pavilion often with corner towers - the ‘iconic’ image of a pier.
Acanthus Ferguson Mann Proposal
What we intend to do is capture the best qualities of both and to bring new ‘audiences’ and attractions to make this Britain’s most popular pier by day and by night, accommodating glitz, glamour, and noise, as well as calm, and the ocean experience. An exterior that beckons its visitors and contains a dynamic interior full of fun and surprise..
AWW Proposal
The Grand Pier will be reborn into a destination of international repute drawing crowds from the length and breadth of the country and beyond. The Grand Pier will be a major attraction, appealing to all ages from pensioners to young children. An all year round destination, keeping visitors entertained during the daytime and throughout the evening.
The entrance area from the promenade will be widened and covered with a glass roof to provide a comfortable space to congregate before beginning the journey to the main attraction. To one side there will be retail units selling snacks and souvenirs and to the right a station where tickets can be purchased for a new monorail. This will provide a spectacular ride above the level of the deck approach and into the heart of the Grand Pier itself.
Grimshaw Proposal
The rebuilding of Weston’s Grand Pier offers a unique opportunity.... A unique opportunity to re-establish a key component of Weston-Super-Mare’s heritage and future.
Weston-Super-Mare has an intimate relationship with water. Facing the channel to the West and defined by its bay, the town appears to grow from the Bristol channel. The Grand Pier embodies this relationship, by extending the town into the water, encouraging people to explore the water, and experience it in a way not possible from land.
Our proposals for the design of the pier embrace this connection between land and water, allowing it to inform the response and design, shaping the building to heighten the experience of this unique structure. To do this we have explored and analysed the Grand Pier in order to understand the joy which it brings to those that visit and walk along its decks. Excitement, freedom, adventure, relaxation - these are all key components of the previous Grand Pier, and these are the elements that we have embodied within our proposals.
Ray Hole Proposal
The architectural inspiration for our new design has come from the previous pier pavilions - effectively a modern version of the previous pier. The new design philosophy proposes a building with an optimum area of external 'skin' defined by rationalisation of the previous buildings envelope.
The corner towers have been similarly informed by the previous pier but with functionality and visitor experience.
Stride Treglown Proposal
We are proposing a new Pavilion that captures the essence and experience of Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier... a Pavilion that emerges from the Pier; extends the Pier; is the Pier.
Our starting point was to think about what makes a Pier special: being out over the water; taking the sea air; enjoying the views.... How could we make a new Pavilion that would celebrate this experience but belong to the old Grand Pier and Weston-super-Mare? Our solution was to ‘lift up’ the surviving timber decking to make a roof that you can promenade onto, a roof that will offer incredible views from on top of it and underneath it. Our proposal is not so much to create a new Pavilion
What do you think about the designs for the new Pavilion?
Please let us have your comments
Grand Pier Donations
Pavilion rebuild donation fund
The Grand Pier is accepting donations towards the rebuild of the pavilion, however due to legal restrictions, donations can only be accepted upon the Grand Pier. Collection buckets are available on the walkway towards the pavilion viewing area.
The owners of the Grand Pier would like to take this opportunity to thank those that have generously made a donation towards the rebuild of the Grand Pier's pavilion and those that have offered through letters, email and telephone calls.
Can You Help Us?
Pictures, stories, memorabilia, ideas?
A huge collection of the Grand Pier's history was lost in the Pavilion fire and we would like replace as much as we can. If you have any pictures, stories or memorabilia regarding the Grand Pier, old or new we would be extremely grateful if you could get in touch. Please call or email us via the contact page.