The United Kingdom’s industrial heritage owes its legacy to the far reaching network of Victorian canals and locks which have over time been reinvented as a destination for tourism and leisure. The context for this brief, is a series of fringe sites skimming the canal edge, whilst the programme for the competition aims to locate a temporary, mobile structure on them to house facilities for leisure and activity, as well as places for meeting and greeting.

This project is part of the 3 year ‘Arts for Places’ programme used as a means of exploring the Leeds-Liverpool canal as a key asset in the regeneration of the local area, and unlock the canal for leisure and social use. The building has 3 designated locations, and accommodates a range of facilities including canoe and kayak storage, changing and toilet facilities, a cafe, teaching spaces and terrace for events.

The building is envisaged as a series of repeat modules arranged in a linear format along the canal side.  Each module is operable via an oversized brass wheel, which open large vertical side panels into the horizontal position as deck and jetty when fully lowered. Thus the surrounding site flows under and through, in the same manner as a canal flows through the gate of a lock.

In fabrication and erection terms, these modules are easily delivered by barge and unfolded on site. Whilst still at an early concept stage, the illustrations opposite indicate the folding methods which we feel may be applicable to a larger scale fabrication and erection process. The sculptural form facilitates a landmark structure which will carry with it the regenerative aspirations of the area.