Sefton, United Kingdom

The Vessel

Studio KAH

The Concept

The proposed building draws inspiration from the working boats that once populated the canal from Leeds to Liverpool with particular reference to the working ‘no frills’ cargo boats, and the ice boats which kept cargo flowing during the winter months by breaking the ice along the canal and were unique in their construction from solid timber planks.

The proposed building envelope evokes an inverted ice boat hull as a dry-land structure. This is a watertight vessel for the insulated containers inside, which are imagined as the cargo. These containers form the enclosed accommodation in the brief. The building is devised to open up completely on the waterside elevation for summertime use extending the building use and flexibility depending on the season. The materiality and construction of the building alludes to the canal’s industrial past as well as looking forward to contemporary innovative solutions and modern day use as a waterside social and leisure venue.

The Building

The building’s unique feature is that it has a ‘closed’ or ‘open’ mode. When ‘closed’ the building is secure, identifiable as an upturned hull, but with some visibility and limited openings to the waterside and a parallel external walkway useable at all times. In ‘open’ mode the waterside of the building opens up in full to reveal the interior and extend the boarded walk into the building as an active and covered terrace for events and as a social space associated with the café: The Vessel building proposal works on two scales: As a community facility and also a bigger events building that opens up onto the waterfront.

The building’s opening mechanism is an ambitious innovation as is the timber and glass roof cladding which will give the building a strong identity. The building is flexible as the ‘containers’ and ‘shelter’ can be adapted and repositioned as use and demand changes or as a result of an alternative location.

The building is simply organised as a linear container with the contained accommodation formed as distinct pods, each different in colour. The circulation space is between the containers and follows the waters edge and tow path. A boarded walkway is proposed to the canal side which is accessible at all times with the light poles in the water to give vibrancy to the waterside at night-time. This also has launch area/steps into the water for the canoes and other boats.

The light poles in the water have been designed with artist Jo Fairfax. This has evolved into movement sensitive poles which will change colour at night time and be powered by solar panels and the potential for some paddle power generation! The light poles are the markers for the site and make the building more visible and dynamic at night time, assuming all year round and evening use is essential.

The entire structure has been designed to be demountable and readily transportable. Although road access is limited, the existing canal waterway provides an excellent opportunity for the elements to be delivered by barge. Wherever possible the structure is designed to be constructed and removed with minimal impact on the existing site. The sequence for construction will be to establish the events deck and place the light poles as markers for the site.

The new building will be a key event along the canal as part of re-inventing the canal as a leisurely artery and celebrating its industrial past.

Europaconcorsi Beta

The Vessel