In 2007 we were approached by Bournemouth council to breathe new life into Boscombe Overstrand – a derelict 1950s building on Boscombe seafront. Our challenge was to bring it up to date without losing any of its original charm. The end result is 59 vintage-style beach pods, each decked out with all the mod cons you’d expect for 21st Century seafront enjoyment and with balconies providing views across Boscombe’s sandy beach.
The huts were designed to accompany Bournemouth’s artificial surf reef – the first of its kind in Europe – and amenities on the ground floor of the building such as a surfing academy and a glass-fronted restaurant, which all together have helped reinvigorate Boscombe’s sense of community.
Having built a great relationship with the team at Bournemouth Seafront, we’ve continued to work with them over the years. Projects included helping to judge an international design competition for the UK’s first disability-first beach huts (which went on to win a RIBA award) and working with Crown Paint to develop a palette for a new line of traditional wooden huts. Gerardine Hemingway chose colours for 75 brand new beach huts along Bournemouth seafront, all in Crown’s super hard-wearing Sadolin Superdec. Each hut has its own precise shade, ranging from burnished orange to icy blue, to depict a ‘sunrise to sunset’ scheme.
“Working with HemingwayDesign has been an inspirational experience… and a consequence of this collaboration has been to raise Bournemouth Borough Council’s level of ambition and expectation of what can be achieved. The high profile attention generated by the Beach Pods has helped to put Boscombe on the map as a thriving centre for beach and water sports with a twist of bohemian chic. “We look forward to continuing to work with HemingwayDesign in the future as Bournemouth Borough Council embarks upon a strategy to create a world class seafront.” Andrew Emery, Service Development Manager, Tourism and Corporate Communications, Bournemouth Council.
AWARDS
Best Generation Scheme at RICS South West Regional 2010
Project of the Year at RICS South West Regional 2010
Regeneration award at the LGC 2010