Pavilion bandstand wins design award

The awards jury has described Niall McLaughlin's shell-like design as "a small project of remarkable quality."

Mr McLaughlin has paid tribute to the energy and enthusiasm of the children of six local primary schools who joined him in the project and the support of Rother council.

Rother leader Cllr Graham Gubby says the prestigious and widely-predicted win will demonstrate the role the town's young people will play in its future.

The RIBA announcement coincides with the start of Architecture Week at the Pavilion. Mr McLaughlin will be talking at the pavilion at 6pm tomorrow about the process of creating the bandstand with the children of Bexhill.

Cllr Gubby said: "I think the fact that we have involved our young people at primary school level right the way through the process of design, exploring mechanical techniques, understanding the planning process and being involved with some of the country's top professionals to produce an award-winning bandstand is important.

The RIBA awards jury said: "This is a small project of remarkable quality which manages actually to enhance the setting of one of the great buildings of the Modern Movement.

"The form is exhilarating, recalling both the dynamics of early Modernism and the organic aspirations of the present day.

"The materials are quite simple, the technology - fibreglass on a plywood frame - derives from the world of boat-building.

"Architect and client have worked together with an admirable clarity of thought to achieve excellent results."

Architecture Week will be opened at 3pm on Saturday with a talk by Rother museums curator Julian Porter on the history of the Grade One Listed pavilion.

Pavilion restoration project manager Alan Haydon and Adam Brown of architects John McAslan and Partners give a talk about the restoration project and their vision for the pavilion's future at 3pm on Sunday.