Bosham Sailing Club - Pavilion Extension

The Sailing Club offers a thriving community facility with year-round activities centred around sailing. As the club grew, a ‘temporary’ marquee was erected to alleviate spatial pressure. Over time this marquee had become tatty and detrimental to the conservation area harbour side environment. The project aimed to replace the marquee with a delicate balcony pavilion, providing an excellent vantage point for watching sailing. The structure was designed not to obscure the existing building. Initial simple sketches evolved into a complex proposal, exploring various sliding and folding options. The chosen design involved opening segments to enclose the under croft, emphasizing the new structure's subservience and flexibility. The balcony's glass and louvred timber flanks offered a subtle and transitory materiality, providing screening to limit light spill. The sustainably sourced Iroko-clad balcony structure with slim steel balustrades aimed to dematerialize against the existing building. Clever fold-up timber glazed doors allow year-round use of the under croft, seamlessly connecting the sailing club to the terrace and harbour. Works also included access to the balcony via the refurbishment of three first-floor ancillary rooms, creating a new club room with doors replacing an existing dormer, and the addition of a new dormer. As a Grade II listed building, extensive consultation with stakeholders preceded planning and listed building applications. Public meetings were held in the club to discuss proposals. Dowling Construction delivered the project successfully, despite being faced with challenges such as lack of access at high tide. The result is a graceful structure that sustains and enhances the sailing club as a heritage asset, contributing positively to the existing building and the broader community.