The West Beach Hub is a new 

watersports and community centre on Hayling Island’s South Coast. 

With the site being surrounded by multiple SSSI’s, the brief required a very delicate response. The 

combination of a flat protected natural landscape, harsh weather conditions and threat of rising sea levels make for a very challenging site.

 

The result is a series of modules each at different scales, organised around a protected courtyard, that float 1m above the ground. This elevated 

structure provides the opportunity for the site to integrate with the surrounding SSSI landscape by allowing plants and wildlife to grow around the building while also protecting against potential flooding.

 

Each module features a pitched roof angled in different directions, a reference to the crashing of the waves that can be witnessed from within each module thanks to the staggered plan which makes the most of the site’s unusual shape. The distinctive shape of the building becomes a landmark on the beach that can be seen for miles while restricting to one storey ensures it sits comfortably in the sparse landscape.

 

At the heart of the scheme is a new cafe that replaces a tired existing building on the site along with a large multi purpose space, series of meeting rooms and glass atrium all connected by a wide corridor that masks as an exhibition space for local artists. Away from the view is a workshop and retail space for all things watersports as well as changing rooms, underground storage and disconnected from the main functions are two guest accomodation rooms.