Situation
The ‘Powder Hole’ is a remote site on the coastal fringe of Redcar, a small industrial and maritime town in the Northeast of England.
The area was once dominated by marshland, hazardous to ships and fishing vessels. In order to counter this problem the local authority took the decision to infill the area using waste slag from a nearby iron works, thereby transforming the coastline into a man made landscape.
Influences
This man made habitat become home to a new steel blast furnace and provided bays to be inhabited by the local fishing community.
During World Wars I & II the area became heavily defended – a strong presence in the existing landscape is the remnants of concrete bunkers lying scattered and upturned.
Proposal
The proposal is to create a coastal interpretation centre in this unique location which will allow visitors to explore the key main narratives of the site. Fishing, Steel making and War - utilising these as a series of drivers to create a structure that transcends its function as a mere vessel for the storage of artefacts, but to consider it a machine for provoking perceptions of heritage for the spectator.
A series of experiential devices relating to the narratives weaves the experience of the building together.
Beyond the narratives the building will act as an exemplary project for sustainability. The building’s structure will act as a mechanism to counter the effects of the polluted landscape to increase biodiversity
