Sea X Row (Interior Major Project) – Nkem Usiade | Page 5

Coastal re-branding
Peter Zumthor talks about good architecture in his
book ‘Thinking Architecture. “Good architecture
should receive the human visitor, should enable
him to experience it...” To me this means that architecture
should be accommodating and welcoming.
The club is easily overlooked on the esplanade,
nearby restaurants and cafés boast hospitality and
fun. With its prime location I feel the space would
benefit becoming an activity building, better suiting
the existing businesses of the site.
An issue facing many seaside towns in the UK is
falling attraction. Seaside towns like Blackpool and
Southend-on-sea have invested in upgrading their
business and beach, distancing from traditional
forms of play at the sea and embracing play that
is more modern. I intend for my scheme to aid in
coastal re-branding of Southsea beach.
Establishing Sea x Row will help re vamp the seaside
being a place to come down to for fun even in
the off season. It provides more choice for activities
to do near Clarence Pier.
Portsmouth city council has strategy’s in place
to strengthen tourism both domestic and international.
Tourism in South-East England alone
contributes to £12.bn to the local economy and
supports 400,000 jobs, second only to London.
Portsmouth knows it niche-being an island city,
and wants to identify itself as a “Great waterfront
city”. A place you want to visit, live, work and
study.
Combining the statistics of tourism and health of
Portsmouth my intervention will be a means of
providing a tourist attraction domestic and international;
encouraging fitness and play along with
engaging different ages and ethnicities with British
and seaside.
Increase visitor attendance
by 5%, 9.7 million (2019)
(2018)Day trips: 8,590,000
Spend: £309,154,00
Visitor economy in England has experienced
growth since 2007 (recession).
Portsmouth to capitalise
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