Project: Spoliarium

Type: Community centre with leisure facilities

Location: Black Rock Beach, Brighton

Year: 2024

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​This speculative project was my response to a site that has huge potential but plagued with many challenges that include access, transport, and its vulnerability to the forces of nature as an effect of climate change. Surrounded by a cliff in the north, the English Channel in the south, and Brighton Marina's sea wall in the east, I turned the site's challenges into opportunities by observing how people behaved and interact with the site in various days and weather conditions. This encouraged me to integrate spatial permeability by opening up the building in different directions, which enhances the experience of liminal spaces and promotes accessibility. The word spoliarium comes from the Latin word spolia that pertains to the practice of  using stones taken from an old structure and repurposed for new construction or decorative purposes. In Brighton, a similar construction method called "bungaroosh" inspired me to look at building materials that can be harvested from construction and demolition sites.

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​Coastal architecture . Community centre . Public space . Modular construction . Parametric roof design . Spolia . Water sensitive design . Landscaping . Sustainable urban development . Regeneration . Brighton heritage & conservation