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Bathing Beauty Beach Hut Competition

Beach Hut competition for Lincolnshire Coast

winning designs announced - September 2006

THE Bathing Beauties Competition run in Mablethorpe this week attracted international attention and has resulted in the selection of some innovative and stunning design concepts. The aim of the project is to create a new seaside architecture along a 10 mile stretch of Lincolnshire coast between Mablethorpe and Chapel St Leonards. The project is being led by artist Michael Trainor and included East Lindsey District Council Chief Executive, Nigel Howells, on the judging panel.

The Bathing Beauties Competition was launched on July 2006, under a partnership between East Lindsey District Council, Lincolnshire County Council and the coastal parish councils in Chapel St Leonard, Mablethorpe and Sutton.  The project has also received funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

Commenting on the selection East Lindsey District Councils Chief Executive, Nigel Howells, said: "The innovation and imagination behind this project has been extraordinary. There has been a real international focus on our stretch of the coast and I am proud that we are able to provide a showcase in Mablethorpe for a project of this standing."

Over 500 artists and architects competed in the competition from over 20 countries including Malaysia, Australia, China, Holland, Japan, Lebanon, Singapore, USA, Israel and the UK. Running alongside the beach hut competition was a second programme for design of a Beachfront Restaurant and Boathouse for Chapel St Leonards that attracted 75 international entries.

The four winners selected for the beach hut competition will be offered a commission of 20,000 to build their huts in 2007.

       Atelier NU, Montreal (Quebec) Canada - Halcyon Beach Hut

       Feix&Merlin,  London, UK -  Eyes Wide sHut

       i-am associates Ltd London, UK -  Jabba

       we made that, London, UK - A Hut for Gazing and Canoodling

Once built, the huts will become the property of East Lindsey District Council and will be available for daily public hire.

A prize for the Best Model was awarded to Thurgood Hobson Design, London, UK - Lazy Susan.

The competition to select a design for a Beachfront Restaurant and Boathouse awarded first place to Robert Cody of Amoia Architects from New York, USA. Runners up were Paul Jones and Ceri Green from Northumberland University. Funding will now be sought to realise the winning design.

For more information of the Bathing Beauties Competition visit: www.bathingbeauties.org.uk