Proposed beach huts unveiled for Boscombe

Residents and visitors are invited to cast their vote in an exciting new international beach hut design competition for Boscombe.

Next week (Tuesday 30 June) people are invited to view over 160 exciting proposals for four unique new beach huts designed specifically for disabled users.

Professional architects, designers and artists from across the world have submitted scale models for the new huts, which will be built this winter on a site to the west of Boscombe Pier, next to Coasters restaurant.

Andrew Emery, Boscombe Sea Change Project Manager, said; “I would like to invite as many people as possible to attend this exciting showcase and express their views on the submitted designs. We have been working closely with disabled users and DOTS disability to come up with an exciting design brief. We are looking for one off designs with visual flair and unique functions which will appeal to disabled beach users and compliment the UK’s most exciting beach front development at Boscombe.

“The level of entry to this competition is a testament to the growing reputation of Boscombe Seafront and I hope that people take the opportunity to come and see some of the work which has come in from as far as Japan, China, USA, Peru, Europe and, of course, from within the UK.”

Other projects underway as part of the Sea Change project include a seasonal beach access trackway made from recycled pier timbers, enabling visitors with mobility impairments to access the beach down to the waterline, as well as creative illumination for Boscombe Precinct and a public arts trail up Sea Road.

The beach hut models will be on public display on 30 June between 10am and 7pm in the President Suite of the Carrington House Hotel, Knyveton Road, Bournemouth. People will be asked to complete a form expressing their top ten preferred designs which will then contribute towards the final judging process taking place the following day, 1 July.

The new huts will be completed in time for the 2010 season.