British architect Man Hollaway has unveiled ideas for the “world’s 1st” objective-developed multi-storey skatepark, which he says will help prevent young men and women from moving away from a sleepy British seaside town .

Skate Park by Guy Holloway

Hollaway – who has offices in London and Kent – was commissioned by billionaire Roger De Haan to draw up ideas for the sports centre, which he claims will be the 1st of its kind. Three concrete floors will supply a park for skateboarders and BMX riders, and there will be a boxing ring in the basement.

“We see this as an chance to put Folkestone on the map,” Hollaway advised Dezeen. “To the greatest of our expertise this has never ever been completed anyplace else in the globe. It is genuinely the very first of its kind.”

Skate Park by Guy Holloway

The skatepark will sit on the site of an outdated bingo hall in the centre of Folkestone, a little seaside town in south-east Kent. The town has experienced a current surge in acceptance due to the accomplishment of the Folkestone Triennial, an arts festival where artists and designers make function for public spaces.

This prompted a huge regeneration prepare for the town centre – masterplanned by Terry Farrell’s London company.

Skate Park by Guy Holloway

But Hollaway has bigger ambitions for the venture than to just revitalise a as soon as-failing town centre and offer a new sports activities facility. He wants the venture to help avert young men and women from moving away to the city.


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“What we’re striving to do is reverse engineer this brain drain,” he explained.

“If you make childhood meaningful via training, sport, recreation then it’s far more most likely that they will invest in their town and the potential and remain and possibly deliver up their very own kids in that town – that is what true regeneration is about.”

Skate Park by Guy Holloway

The project will be constructed to replace a former harbour-side skatepark, also owned by De Haan, which has been earmarked by Farrells for amongst 800 and 1,000 houses.

The new building will characteristic a giant bowl on the upper floor, making it possible for skaters and bikers to drop five metres down onto the degree beneath, even though ramps and a big industrial lift will be added for the significantly less adventurous.

“It sounds dangerous isn’t going to it?” said Hollaway. “We’re shrouding our young children in what feels like rubber to protect them all the time, but I think – as the world gets to be safer – a controlled adrenaline facility is what people will demand.”

Skate Park by Guy Holloway

The three upper floors of the developing will be veiled in metal mesh enabling maximum daylight and ventilation into the unheated room, while the ground floor will be wrapped in glass.

The undulating surfaces that provide ramps, moguls and ledges designed to let skaters to perform tricks will be left exposed, creating a cave-like entrance hall supported by curving concrete columns.

Skate Park by Guy Holloway

“As you come in you’ll see the belly of the bowl over you and hear the wheels of the skates over your head as properly,” added the architect. “The layout of the park will produce the ceiling beneath.”

“It truly is just being totally trustworthy about what goes on over and how it comes collectively.”

Skate Park by Guy Holloway

The studio is collaborating with skatepark designers and “well-known skaters” to develop a facility hoped to draw newbies as nicely as worldwide talent. One particular concept is to replicate the best bits of the world’s skateparks and transplant them within the constructing.

An 11-metre-high climbing wall will span the upper floors, although a cafe, workplace and initial-assist centre will occupy the ground floor. A local boxing club has been invited to take up residence in the basement.

Skate Park by Guy Holloway

A rooftop terrace will permit sweaty skaters, climbers and boxers to dry off in the great sea air and to appreciate “extraordinary views over Folkestone and the English Channel”. According to the architect, this feature is inspired by Frank’s Cafe, a rooftop bar atop a multi-storey developing in south-east London.

This isn’t the very first project Hollaway will perform on for De Haan – his firm previously completed a seafood restaurant on the town’s harbour.

This newest project will be submitted for organizing permission in the up coming couple of months, with a see to total by 2017 – just in time for the town’s up coming triennial.

Skate Park by Guy HollowayCross area Skate Park by Guy HollowayLong part Dezeen

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