Today (27 April 2009) sees the launch of an exciting competition to design and build innovative new beach huts specifically for disabled beach users in Bournemouth. 
 
Professional artists, architects and designers are being invited to submit bold and dramatic concepts to reinvent a row of beach huts specifically for disabled beach users. 
 
The new huts will form a key part of the Boscombe Sea Change scheme which will deliver the UK’s only purpose-designed accessible beach facilities.  Other projects underway include a seasonal beach access trackway made from recycled pier timbers, enabling visitors with mobility impairments to access the beach down to the waterline.  Improvements to accessible parking in front of the new huts and a refurbishment of the accessible public toilet will also take place in time for summer 2009.
 
Councillor Beverley Dunlop, Cabinet Member for Environment & Economy, said; “I would like to welcome professional artists, architects and designers to come forward and be part of this exciting project which will enhance the appearance of the area, creating a more user friendly and attractive ambience.  We have been working very closely with disabled beach users and DOTS disability to come up with a design brief for something iconic and different which represents the British seaside town.  We are specifically 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 new huts will replace standard beach huts located next to Coasters restaurant, to the west of Boscombe Pier and will be more spacious both inside and out.  
 
Download a copy of the design brief.

The design competition organisers have received a number of questions relating to the design brief.  We have put these together, with our responses, onto a frequently asked questions document

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Enquiries to Andrew Emery, Boscombe Sea Change Project Manager, email: Andrew.emery@bournemouth.gov.uk.
 
The deadline for submission of written questions is Friday 29th May 2009, with submission of models to arrive by  Friday 26th June 2009.