MARGATE BOAT BUILDING SCHOOL

by Daniel Smith

Margate Boat Building School aims to tackle the local issue of unemployment and unqualified young people by helping students 16+ gain manual skills in fibreglass and traditional wood boat building, so they can achieve higher qualifications and seek professional employment, in an industry with good prospects. The school is designed to create a contrast between the heavy industrial character of boat building and the organic nature of the site, being exposed to a chalk stone cliff face next to the liquidity of the sea. The building is made up of two tall boatyards (fibreglass and timber) that are connected to dry docks in the sea by overhead cranes. The cranes space-frame structure makes up the primary structure for the whole building. The boatyards enclose a central space for all other amenities such as machine rooms, showers/changing rooms, cafe, library and classroom.