The RCIYC’s new clubhouse design.
THE Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club is in no hurry to find a new home.
But it will soon seek planning consent for the winning design for a clubhouse on the Crown Pier.
Commodore John Frankland said that the club, which had only recently moved in above Da Bruno Restaurant, viewed it as a long-term project. ‘We are happy where we are. We are settled,’ he said.
‘This is not a case of the club desperately needing a new home. We can stay where we are for as long as we want. This is for future generations and is something we are looking to work on for the next five to 10 years.’ The club would be submitting the design to Environment soon, but he could not say exactly when.
‘We have not got a time frame, but I don’t think we will take too long because we had an agreement with Peter Kaufman Kent, who has spent a lot of time and money on it, and the least we can do is put the plans in quickly,’ he said.
Mr Frankland was happy with the design chosen by the public.
‘I think it was the best one for fitting in with the surroundings and it was clear that it was between that one and one other,’ he said.
The competition, sponsored by Ironbridge Estates MD Mr Kaufman Kent, attracted six designs.
If Environment gives the go-ahead, the club will still need permission from States departments, including landowner Treasury and Resources, before any development can begin.
The Guernsey Press broke the news to winning architect Justin Schnoeckelborg yesterday and he said he was delighted to have won.
‘We started in October and for me it was quite important to have a clear-shaped building next to all the boats in the harbour,’ said the 32-year-old German.
‘I think it fits in well with the environment because the building is not too high. I wanted it to have a view of the whole harbour, so I put the kitchen and administration offices on the ground floor.
‘The first floor is for guests and a restaurant so people can enjoy the view and they can all see their boats.’
Mr Schnockleborg said he had thought he was in with a good chance of winning because of the positive comments he had received from the public while in Guernsey last week.
‘People seemed to like it,’ he said. ‘It was great to do a special building in a special location.’
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One Article Comment
As I have only been able to see the small photos of the proposed designs for the RCIYC it is too difficult for me to judge them. However, it seems to me that a building that reflects both 2010 as well as a nautical theme would be an asset to the harbour-scene. Insignificance is not what is wanted, surely? Check out the loo with a view in Mooloolaba, Queensland on http://www.mooloolabarealestate.com.au/about_mooloolaba/virtual_tour and you will see the use of appropriate materials (teak, stainless steel etc) combined with a lightness of touch and some humour (steamship air vents, cleat seating, portholes etc) and all this attention to detail for a public toilet, but one on a wonderful beach. Oh that some of our beach facilities could be so interesting! St Peter Port harbour surely deserves a positive, vibrant statement rather than the modest, utilitarian and characterless blocks we see around the harbour now, most supposedly ‘congruous’ because of a bit of granite stuck on them to make it seem as if they ‘fit’. It is time to move away from the packing shed mentality and embrace life!