Middle Beach
What : Consultation, Concept Design, Art Direction, CGI Imagery, Photography
Where : Studland, Dorset, UK
Client : National Trust
In the heart of Studland lies Middle Beach, a small and quiet un-touched natural beach owned by the National Trust. This coastal gem is loved by locals and visitors alike.
We were approached by the National Trust to help bridge the gap between existing and future solutions for the beach’s small but much loved café and community facilities.
The location of Middle Beach means that it is very exposed and vulnerable to the ever changing coastal geography and effects of erosion.
Due to the inevitable future loss of the current cafe’s location and access, the Trust were tasked with defining new options and possibilities for the future and sharing these with the understandably cautious local committees and residents.
Brief
The brief was to provide design concepts and visuals for possible facilities and locations throughout the area which ranged from permanent options to mobile catering vans.
Due to the site being a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) a delicate approach was needed to deliver viable and considerate concepts.
Although requested, the early Lower Coombe beachside permanent options were quickly ruled out due to logistical issues along with further inevitable future erosion issues. Our idea to re-purpose the rear end of the existing clifftop carpark site into a new community area was very popular during consultations and this was one of the key elements that convinced the local committee that a clifftop option was viable and the most suitable solution, even though this had previously been heavily objected to.
Lower Combe temporary / seasonal option
Cliff top café interior with external community space
We produced a number of images for the different concepts including internal images for the new café with accurately calibrated photographic back plates so that local residents could picture themselves inside still being able to enjoy the views that the site is famous for. Our café concepts included graphic displays to the interior walls showing the history of the site which was heavily involved in preparation for the D-Day landings.
The key vision and aim for our concepts was that although this was a new era for Middle Beach, it’s history which the locals are so proud of would be protected and documented so that it could be shared with future generations.
Since our initial concept work, architects have now been instructed to produce a full scheme proposal for a clifftop option with segregated community space. The Trust were very pleased with the outcome of the discussions and we are delighted that we were able help move this difficult and sensitive project forward.
