Our brief was for the design of new dedicated terminal to cater for the larger cruise ships using the port at Southampton. The client demanded a facility that processed passengers quickly and efficiently from car or coach to ship in good quality airport style facilities.
The principle of the design, in operational terms, was to ensure that passengers, on entering the building kept moving in roughly the same direction and that they could actually see the ship – their destination – during the journey. Disembarking passengers also needed a similarly straightforward arrival route.
A long tubular shed, shaded from south and west sun but with windows to the east and towards the ship was proposed, taken through planning and developed to Employer Requirements stage. We then acted as client representatives when the Design & Build contract was let.
A recognisable and distinctive ‘shed’ was produced which proved both operationally efficient and economic to build. The project shares a language with our other transport and infrastructure work, utilising our design skill and experience to detail a simple and elegant building, and add value to a restricted budget and palette of materials.
