Art for Places

Duggan Morris Architects Ltd

Duggan Morris Architects interpreted the context for the Sefton Waterworks commission as a series of fringe sites skimming the canal edge; 'gaps between development, voids within the march of contemporary progression'. They saw the commission as a chance for a reflective pause and celebration in an ever changing environment. As such, they developed the programme with the aim to locate a temporary, mobile structure onto three seemingly redundant sites, housing facilities for leisure and activity.

Conceptually, the building form is derivative of a canoeist's profile in full motion. They describe it as 'a series of peaks and troughs; a rhythmic stretching and pulling, and the long low glide of a canoe in perfect pitch.' The building is a series of repeat modules arranged in a line along the canal side. Each unit, prefabricated and identical, is representative of a canoeist, whilst the canal edge becomes the canoe.

Duggan Morris also sites that the notion of the lock informs an additional range of function and flexibility. Each module can be operated by an oversized brass wheel, which open large vertical side panels into the horizontal position, which act as deck and jetty when fully lowered. The surrounding site flows under and through, in the same manner as a canal flows through the gate of a lock.

When seen in plan (as if from a nearby bridge or multi-storey building) the building is designed to resemble a large 8 man canoe, with each jetty an oar, and the kayaks and canoes looking like oversized paddles. Whilst a simple metaphor for the internal function, the form is abstract and highly sculptural. The skin is a titanium wrap, folded and pleated, with perforations that allow light through at night. The sculptural form is a landmark structure which the architects hope will stimulate regenerative aspirations.

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