Community engagement means the community are involved in the creation of something. This project is asking for someone to design something and volunteer their artistic talents for the community – without any engagement with the community mentioned. You know, that art we all love where no one knows why it is there and so it gets destroyed or forgotten about within a short amount of time. To top it all off, you need to read a huge brief (or tender as they are often called) in order to enter this competition that gives you nothing in return, apart from you being able to look at it and say “I designed that”.
Peel Land & Properties have been working to create a vision for the future development of the 14.9 hectare Chatham Waters site which sits between Pier Road and the existing Chatham waterfront in Medway. The vision of the Chatham Waters master plan is one of a scheme that is respectful of its context but re-energises the Chatham waterfront, creating a new vibrant quarter that relates, but does not compete with Chatham. With the completion of this scheme Chatham should see a complete renewal of its waterfront, providing a social promenade that unifies the whole of the area.
This competition offers a unique opportunity to be part of the new Chatham Waters development by creating a series of artworks that will sit along the northern edge of Phase 1 of the scheme. This will be achieved by using perforations in the specified metal panels to create an exciting graphical design along the walls. The graphical design of the metal panels should create an engaging artwork intervention which will act as an important pedestrian gateway not only to Phase 1 of the development but into the master plan development as a whole.
The artwork should draw its influences from the sites rich history, current context and the future development plans that will see the vision of the Chatham Waters delivered as a scheme that is respectful of its context but re-energises the Chatham waterfront. With the completion of this scheme Chatham should see a complete renewal of its waterfront, providing a social promenade that unifies the whole of the area.
All proposals should take into account a value for money approach to the art work ensuring that a cost effective approach to the design is taken.
The winning artist/designer will be supported by AHR Architects to help enable the design to be developed in such a way that it is implementable. As such potential applicants should be available for meetings and telephone calls throughout the construction drawing and material procurement phase of the development (even though you won’t be getting paid, because you don’t have a job do you? So your boss won’t mind!)
Applicants should refer to the information submitted for planning approval for more information on both the masterplan and phase 1 development sites. This information is available for viewing on the Medway planning portal application number MC/13/1806.
Site Visit – July 2014
Before submitting a proposal, artists are invited to attend a site visit on the Thursday 7th August 2014. At either a morning (10am) or afternoon (2pm) session. On this date interested parties will be given a tour of the site, will have the scheme explained to them in greater detail and have the opportunity to ask questions about the masterplan development as well as the competition.
To ensure you are allocated a place on this day and to receive more details about the agenda for the day please email CWcomp@AHR-global.com
Initial Proposal Submission – Wednesday 20th August 2014.
Following the site visit applicants are invited to submit their proposals in electronic format by email by Wednesday 20th August 2014
AM WATERS// Art Wall Competition Brief
CONTENTS
1// INTRODUCTION
2// BRIEF
3// APPLICATION PROCESS
4// TIMELINE
5// CONTACT DETAILS
1// INTRODUCTION
Peel Land & Properties have been working to create a vision for the future development of the 14.9 hectare Chatham Waters site which sits between Pier Road and the existing Chatham waterfront.
The vision of the Chatham Waters master plan is one of a scheme that is respectful of its context but re-energises the Chatham waterfront, creating a new vibrant quarter that relates, but does not compete with Chatham. With the completion of this scheme Chatham should see a complete renewal of its waterfront, providing a social promenade that unifies the whole of the area.
+ A Place to Live.
+ A Place to Work.
+ A Place to Play.
+ A Place to meet a Friend.
Chatham Waters – Aspirations
+ To create a world class, employment led, mixed use community with a distinct sense of identity.
+ To develop Chatham in a sustainable way – environmentally, socially and economically.
+ To create a new place within Chatham which compliments the towns existing character and infrastructure.
+ To create a community which uplifts the spirits.
+ To create a deliverable project enhancing Chatham’s economic future.
The Masterplan
The master plan endeavours to achieve its aspirations in the following way –
Mending the Connections
The aim is to allow Chatham Waters to become a key destination on the waterfront, linking both the Marina to the East and Chatham Quays to the west, whilst drawing people from the University. The site should be seen as part of a much larger masterplan for the area, creating new pedestrian and cycle route links to the neighbouring Berkeley Homes development and establishing new connections through the development and integrating the site with the urban context.
Site Assets
The site has a number of natural assets. Firstly it holds a prominent position to the waterfront and dock side which should be capitalised. Secondly the site addresses Pier Road directly offering unique commercial value and access to the development.
Central Spine
The intention is to drag the commercial frontage from Pier Road into the site. This will provide both clear commercial addresses and the opportunity for a central park and destination and a key new local amenity with a ‘sense of place’.
Public Spaces
Key new public spaces have been created at each end of the proposed central Park. The spaces contain new public buildings which act as vista, framing views.
Permeability and Hierarchy
The acknowledgement of the need for both permeability and spatial hierarchy within the masterplan is fundamental. Small, medium, large and extra-large spaces have been created with complimentary functions.
Phase1 –
Phase 1 of the development is comprised of a number of works which include upgrading the infrastructure in to the site to accommodate future phases of development, the construction of a foodstore (Asda) and associated car parking, the integration of pedestrian links & public spaces including the central greenspace. Phase 1 of the Chatham Waters development achieved planning approval in 2013 and works are currently being undertaken on the site to enable the construction of the development.
The location of the foodstore affords the opportunity to develop some strong pedestrian links into both phase 1 and the wider masterplan site. The east-west links through the food store site and to the rear of the foodstore site will set a precedent for the future development of the masterplan and as such are key elements of Phase 1. The key gateway proposed to the north east corner of the food store site will link the eastern edge of the development with the new public square which will sit at the heart of the master plan. Therefore views to the northern edge of the food store site should seek to define this main pedestrian thoroughfare.
As the rear elevation of the store sits directly adjacent to this very prominent thoroughfare into the heart of the Chatham Waters development, this elevation should be active and visually interesting and should positively address the pedestrian activity within the street scape. As it is not feasible to put glazing on the rear elevation of the store at pedestrian level and as the sprinkler tank and plant facilities are located along the rear elevation, creating this active and exciting environment was a challenge.
Northern Art Wall Shared Street
The Northern East-West route is a shared street. The street has been designed to fully accommodate service vehicles accessing the rear of the superstore, and will ensure access to the future energy centre and multi-storey car park. It is our intention that this street should be a pedestrian dominated environment due to its proximity to the future ‘Wharf Area’ and Victory Pier. The street will have flush kerbs and demarcated pedestrian safe routes to ensure full accessibility. Areas of paving have been utilised along this route to visually ‘squeeze’ the perceived extent of vehicular access helping to reduce the carriageways dominance. A single row of street lighting and a street furniture ‘zone’ will help to define a ‘safe’ route along the northern edge of the street fronting the future Energy Centre, although the full width of the street will be perceived as pedestrian priority.
The chosen architectural design solution for this area makes a feature of the visible sprinkler tank and rear wall elevation. In this design, panels of vertical timber fins are interspersed between perforated metal panels. It is envisaged that these perforations could be designed in such a way to showcase artwork or specialist graphics. These patterned perforated panels would introduce activity and vibrancy to the street scene and create a unique space in keeping with the vision for the development as a whole & define it as an entrance in to the Chatham waterfront.
The series of ‘Artwork’ walls will provide a lively, inviting backdrop to the street scene, screening the supermarket service yard, making the route engaging to users and provide the street with a strong identity making it a fitting gateway in to not only Phase 1 but the future development of the Chatham waters Masterplan. It is envisaged that this art work would make a strong historical reference whilst also being future focused on the exciting and vibrant environment that the Chatham Waters development will bring.
2// Brief
This competition offers a unique opportunity to be part of the new Chatham Waters development by creating a series of artworks that will sit along the northern edge of Phase 1 of the scheme. This will be achieved by using perforations in the specified metal panels to create an exciting graphical design along the walls. The graphical design of the metal panels should create an engaging artwork intervention which will act as an important pedestrian gateway not only to Phase 1 of the development but into the master plan development as a whole.
The artwork should draw its influences from the sites rich history, current context and the future development plans that will see the vision of the Chatham Waters delivered as a scheme that is respectful of its context but re-energises the Chatham waterfront. With the completion of this scheme Chatham should see a complete renewal of its waterfront, providing a social promenade that unifies the whole of the area.
All proposals should take into account a value for money approach to the art work ensuring that a cost effective approach to the design is taken.
The winning artist/designer will be supported by AHR Architects to help enable the design to be developed in such a way that it is implementable. As such potential applicants should be available for meetings and telephone calls throughout the construction drawing and material procurement phase of the development.
Applicants should refer to the information submitted for planning approval for more information on both the masterplan and phase 1 development sites. This information is available for viewing on the Medway planning portal application number MC/13/1806.
The artwork wall metal panel imagery should be designed in line with the specified drawings, construction details and specifications attached to this brief and outlined below.–
– AED-21-XX-X-008 – External Feature Fence Details
– AED-21-XX-X-001 – REVA – Proposed Elevations
– Chatham Waters – Rear Wall Metal Cladding Specification
– AED-20-00-X-003 – REVB – Proposed Site Plan
3// Application Process
Site Visit – July 2014
Before submitting a proposal, artists are invited to attend a site visit on the Thursday 7th August 2014. At either a morning (10am) or afternoon (2pm) session. On this date interested parties will be given a tour of the site, will have the scheme explained to them in greater detail and have the opportunity to ask questions about the masterplan development as well as the competition.
To ensure you are allocated a place on this day and to receive more details about the agenda for the day please email CWcomp@AHR-global.com
Initial Proposal Submission – Wednesday 20th August 2014.
Following the site visit applicants are invited to submit their proposals in electronic format by email by Wednesday 20th August 2014 to the following address. Please note the file size is limited to 25mb, for submissions with a files size greater than this please email the following address for further instructions –
Email –
CWcomp@AHR-global.com
Mail –
Chatham Waters Competition
AHR Architects Ltd
7 Brewery Place
Brewery Wharf
Leeds LS10 1NE
United Kingdom
Submissions should include the following –
-Name and contact details
-2 page max CV/portfolio
-Artists impression of each artwork wall as well as an overall streetscape image.
-Summary of no more than 300 words explaining the philosophy behind the artwork design.
A panel of judges made up of representatives from Medway council, Peel properties and AHR architects will assess each proposal against the requirements of the competition.
A competition winner/s should be announced WC 25th August 2014.
4// Timescales
The Timeline for the project as follows:
• July 2014 – Circulate brief.
• 7th August 2014 – Site visit open to all interested parties.
• Wednesday 20th August 2014 – Deadline for applications, judging panel to review submissions and decide upon competition winner/s.
• Spring 2015 New store construction period.
• Spring 2015 – Phase 1 Chatham Waters development completed and open to public.
Please be aware that Peel Land and Property reserve the right at any time to withdraw the competition and as such the winning (or any other) entry may not be implemented.
5// Contact Details
For further information regarding the competition please contact us at the following address –
Email –
CWcomp@AHR-global.com
Mail –
Chatham Waters Competition
AHR Architects Ltd
7 Brewery Place
Brewery Wharf
Leeds LS10 1NE
United Kingdom
Creatabot 