Offbeat Homes

New Antonino Cardillo Project: Birnbeck Island

by Jennifer Chait on January 17th, 2008

Antonino Cardillo recently sent me some info on a new project for a competition he’s working on - delightful news for Offbeat Homes, because we love Mr. Cardillo’s work around here. This new idea seems extremely large and involved - but partly that’s because of the pre-existing site structures.

Here’s an overview of the plan:

Cardillo says this is for the Birnbeck Island Competition in Weston-Super-Mare (UK). This international architecture competition is being held by Urban Splash, in association with the RIBA

From the competition site:

“This is the chance of a lifetime to create an exciting development for a fantasy island in Weston-super-Mare.

We are running this competition as we want to deliver an outstanding seaside development, which realises the potential of the site and reinforces the regeneration of Weston-super-Mare.

The Competition is open to registered architects or designers in collaboration with other design disciplines and it is our intention that the winning design will be built. Urban Splash is looking for inspiration. We want to transform Birnbeck into a beautiful, awe-inspiring destination. We want to deliver a fantastic development with public access, new attractions and facilities to draw more residents, workers and tourists back to Weston.”

Visual of Cardillo’s plan:

Why re-establish the Weston-super-Mare?

“Weston-super-Mare was one of the great seaside destinations. In the olden days tourists from across the West Country, the Black Country and Wales flocked to the resort to enjoy its beautiful settings and attractions and more importantly, its alcohol. Wales was dry on a Sunday back then, so packed paddlesteamers used to cross the channel to Weston so that our Welsh friends could quench their thirst.

Although tourist numbers have fallen, the town still attracts visitors. Weston has retained its classic seaside character, with the donkeys on the beach and fish and chips on the seafront, providing solid building blocks for the future.”

Urban Splash snagged Birnbeck Island, Pier and Headland in 2006, and they think that developing Birnbeck Island and Headland will regenerate Birnbeck Weston-super-Mare.

The Island back in the day:

The island currently:

More visuals of Cardillo’s plan:

Cardillo’s plan explained…

“This architectomic complex is born out of the pre-existing piers and buildings developing into a system of pathways. Like a big naval vessel, a curved shape embraces all the diverse elements of the composition, substituting an old concrete platform with the new basement building. Constructed five metres beneath the main peir, it is accessible from a ramp near the main gate of Birnbeck Island. Its sequence of flexible spaces links all the buildings on the island from below… Two different materials divide these building surfaces: warm concrete at the bottom and planking at the top.”

The theory behind the plan…

“Having to be at least in intention a lasting phenomenon, architecture “puts up with” entertainment. Entertainment is ephemeral, mutable, and a building that tries to fix the shape of a space in time is destined almost always to fail. Is an architecture of amusement possible then? Probably not, because it is difficult to surpass its own time without incorporating such a strong subliminal content for it to become significant in itself, able then to transcend the function for which the architecture was born, transforming the same function into a pretext. Entertainment certainly influences actions and thoughts. It is a form of social control. A responsible architecture can ignore these difficult presuppositions only with difficulty. “

I like the feeling behind these plans. I also think this design compliments the already existing structures on the island; it’s not overpowering, which if you take a look at the photo history of Birnbeck, you’d note that overpowering this space with the wrong structures and flashy designs would be criminal. The space surrounded by water sort of calls for something more organic in nature. Cardillo’s plan, covers that aspect well I think.

Resources:

• Learn more about the international architecture competition.
• See other work of Antonino Cardillo.
• Visit Antonino Cardillo’s architecture site.

[many thank to Antonino Cardillo for the wonderful photos]

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