Marking Coastal Boundaries
Landmark Mersey
This striking competition entry for a Merseyside landmark structure is derived from both natural and man-made precedents on an incredible site in Crosby. The tower sits on a dynamic boundary between sea, river, air and land, and marks a frontier between wildlife, and industry. Such a rich variety of surroundings existing in harmony is very rare.
The scheme comprises a visitor and education centre at coast level and an observation tower above. The visitor centre is concealed by a green roof, which rises over the building concealing the lower portion below. This creates a continuation of the existing landscape, broken only by education spaces leading onto the leeward side of the site.
Rising from the planted roof is the main tower. It’s form and structure are derived directly from the intersection of local wildlife and industry, nature and machine. Borrowing from the structure and form of flight feathers and cuttlefish bones, it is a lattice of lightweight members, which creates an uninterrupted void rising in the middle of the structure and enclosing the stair.