Eyemouth Pavilions
Eyemouth Pavilions is a new community facility at the heart of the Scottish fishing town Eyemouth. The pavilions are a key part of the harbour’s active transformation towards a new sustainable marine economy.
Location
Eyemouth, Scotland
Completed
2023
Client
Eyemouth Harbour Trust
The Eyemouth Harbour Pavilion is an integral part to the Eyemouth Harbour Trust’s regeneration project funded by Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Scottish Border’s Council’s Eyemouth Regeneration Fund. The masterplan envisions a series of three pavilions connected by public realm along the waterfront and a wider promenade linking the harbour to the waterfront and Old Town.
The pavilions have winter-gardens on the ground floor for community uses, and self-contained studios for start-up entrepreneurs on the first floor. The openings to the harbour are generous and welcoming and the people passing by are just as much part of the place as the community activities inside. Sea Garden was co-created during construction with students from the Eyemouth High School and is now cared for by the Eyemouth Enhancement Group.
The site was challenging as it sits within a working harbour and conservation area and has technical challenges related proximity to a marine environment. We approached all of these challenges positively, using them as signposts to guide the design into a highly site specific result.
The primary construction materials are natural and long-lasting materials. The curved zinc roofs make reference to the towns maritime and boat-making history as well as the traditional gable houses facing the sea. The structure is Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) resting on glulam beams and steel columns. The envelope is highly insulated and clad with a ship-lab timber on the first floor. The building is naturally ventilated, and the large openings allow an abundance of natural daylight inside. The overall result is a high performance, low energy building with low carbon construction, alongside a socially sustainable development.
Added value
The innovative redevelopment of what is locally known as the ‘old fishmarket’ site creates a place which will help achieve sustainable economic growth in Eyemouth.
Our high quality and welcoming building has already been a catalyst for further waterfront regenerations. The building maximises views of the water and is a comfortable place to making - making it a popular destination and drawing people to the harbour. This has opened up the harbour as a cultural and social asset for the town.
The project has complimented neighbouring businesses who tangibly see the benefits that activity in the new pavilion creates and how this brings new audiences. It has inspired collaboration across the community groups and local businesses and become a central hub for locals and visitors alike, and restore the sense of identity to the waterfront area of Eyemouth.
Sustainability
The use of timber as a construction material, combined with a highly insulated, airtight, and naturally ventilated building, has resulted in low embodied and operational carbon. Timber was selected for its carbon-neutral properties and lightweight nature, which reduced the amount of concrete required for the foundation. The modular design furthermore facilitated efficient construction the narrow site. Structural details and CLT surfaces were exposed internally, celebrating the crafted joint and enhancing internal comfort and reducing the need for additional internal materials.
Materials were sourced from local suppliers where possible to minimise the carbon footprint for transportation and are ethically and responsibly produced. Performance and longevity in the challenging environmental harbour surroundings was of high priority for all external materials. All external finishes were chosen for their hard wearing properties, long lifespan and durability in the coastal environment. Great care was taken to design a robust and flexible building which would require low maintenance.
History
Eyemouth is historic Scottish Borders fishing port which dates back to the 12th century. The site previously contained an obsolete / derelict building which blocked the harbour from the town. The pavilion has given the area a sense of place, celebrating its place in history as an important harbour town and the site’s evolution enables community inclusion.
Engagement
The brief was developed in close collaboration with the client and community stakeholders. The relatively small town has active local community groups. As a community asset it was vital that the views of the local community were sought and taken on board in the design. During consultations, the project evolved from a single large building into smaller taller pavilions, creating more space for civic use and fostering an urban environment.
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