The historic monument that become a showpiece for the latest in timber technology and modern fundraising techniques has been awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize, given annually to the UK’s best new building.
Hastings Pier on the East Sussex coast was built in 1872 and for many years was a popular pleasure destination. Neglected for years, it closed in 2008 following storm damage and in 2010 was ravaged by fire. The eventual rebuild featured a showpiece of timber technology using 200m3 of azobé deck joists, 75,000 linear metres of 145x35mm azobé deck boards and a visitor centre constructed with cross-laminated timber and reclaimed original timbers.
“We were delighted to work with Hastings Pier Charity on this ambitious project in which literally a ‘Phoenix from the ashes’ was realised through dedicated community action and strong support from the Heritage Lottery Fund,” said Professor Alex de Rijke, co-founder of architects dRMM and project director.
Hastings Pier had been owned by an offshore company and dilapidated when it was destroyed by the fire in 2010. After the local authority acquired the ruin, the pier ownership was transferred to Hastings Pier Charity with more than 3,000 shareholders at £100 a share following a successful crowdsourcing campaign.
Maria Ludkin, chairwoman of Hastings Pier Charity, said: “To have our pier recognised at the very highest level is an extraordinary achievement – this award belongs to the people of Hastings and St Leonards who came together to save this historic landmark and made it a beacon of a town’s regeneration.”
The new-look pier has been repaired and rebuilt, then creatively reimagined. The 19th century structural iron work, hidden below deck, has been painstakingly restored and strengthened following years of neglect, and storm and fire damage.
The surviving Victorian pavilion, one of two buildings on the Pier, has been transformed into an open plan, glazed cafe-bar.
The vast pier deck has been set aside as an uninterrupted flexible expanse for large-scale concerts, markets and public gatherings. The new timber-clad visitor centre building in the centre of the pier has a viewing deck on its roof providing a dramatic space for visitors to experience epic views along the coast and across the English Channel.
The restoration cost £14m, which included contracts for FSC-certified azobé deck boards and joists worth a combined £600,000.
Illingworth Ingham supplied 200m3 of azobé deck joists to contractor FPE Global Holdings, which undertook the structural steelwork that formed the main structure up to the pier head. Illingworth Ingham was supplied by Dutch hardwood supplier Wijma, which imported the timber from Africa.
Ecochoice Ltd supplied 75,000 linear metres of 145x35mm of FSC-certified azobé deck boards direct to the Hastings Pier Charity. Bexhill-based TimberCraft UK completed the deck installation work. “It was a long and arduous contract to deliver, with tight quality specifications, fixed lengths, short lead time and bundles limited to one ton – all in FSC,” said Mike Bekin, director of Ecochoice.
“I’m very pleased that the project not only is stunning, but also a testament that it is possible to successfully deliver large volumes of FSC-certified wood in a rigorous specification.”
Pier construction site manager David Spooner told TTJ during the work: “We’ve been taking up the old deck, which is about 50-100 years old and some of it is in excellent condition. It’s a great advert fo marine hardwood. We will use as much of it as we can to make furniture for the pier.” These timbers included jarrah, purpleheart, greenheart and balau.
The CLT for the visitor centre was supplied by KLH UK and it is clad in the reclaimed timber salvaged from the original pier. Reclaimed timber deck furniture was designed by dRMM and Hastings & Bexhill Wood Recycling as part of a local employment initiative.
The Stirling Prize is awarded by RIBA in recognition of the building that has made the greatest contribution to British architecture in the past year.
“It has taken a seven-year heroic collaboration to turn a smouldering pier in disrepair and decline into a vibrant public space with a palpable sense of ownership,” the judges said.
The pier has also won the RIBA South East Award 2017, RIBA South East Project Architect of the Year 2017 and RIBA South East Client of the Year 2017.
The ‘master-move’ and response to the brief was to design a strong, community-led and owned serviced platform which could accommodate a host of uses, from music concerts to international markets, the judges said.
The decision not to place any building at the end of the pier is an extremely powerful move that creates the large open space and a sense of calmness with a strong connection to the sea and the seafront.
“The vital importance of building sustainably runs throughout the RIBA’s awards, and Hastings Pier deserves special recognition for its remarkable use of sustainable materials and positive social impact.
“The architects have designed a process as much a building, and have designed the Pier to evolve and grow.”
