Functional and recreational
Completed in April 2013, the redevelopment of the seafront at Redcar was undertaken by landscape architects and urban designers, Smeeden Foreman. As winners of a RIBA International Design Competition, they led a team of architects and engineers, in conjunction with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Environment Agency and Birse Civils Ltd, that brought to life an ambitious plan for this North Yorkshire seaside town.
Following community and stakeholder consultation, the scheme addressed both functional and recreational concerns. Existing sea defences were replaced, permanent areas for RNLI lifeboat and fishing boat mooring were constructed, highway realignments were completed, and bus shelters erected. Recreational elements include a café, waterplay, sculpture, a multi-use events space, seating areas and an immersive lighting experience.
Materials used
The Kilkenny Blue Fossil Limestone paving, provided by Hardscape for the project, forms a prominent part of the design scheme. The stone also features in the distinctive bus shelters which are located along the promenade. Hardscape also supplied additional hard landscaping materials such as Magma Granite and Egerton Red Sandstone.
The seafront now offers an attractive, inclusive leisure space. The appropriate use of natural and hard landscaping materials has created an urban, seaside amenity that delicately balances form and function.
