Dunoon Waterfront: Public Realm Works
Erz were appointed to the Dunoon Queen’s Hall and Waterfront design team in early 2013, through the Argyll and Bute CHORD consultancy framework. The project involves the improvement of the public realm surrounding the Queen’s Hall building, which is situated at the gateway to the town - adjacent to the pedestrian ferry terminal and Castle Gardens.
The existing site included a vehicle muster area for the ferry. This defunct infrastructure disconnected the Queen’s Hall building from the waterfront. Erz have created a new public realm between the building and the coastline, whilst referencing the parkland features of Castle Gardens to the South.
Landform and avenue planting are used to reinforce the urban structure of the high street and reintroduce a strong axial relationship with the old pier. Lingering and sunbathing is encouraged by built in seating walls and sunny slopes with views to the Firth of Forth.
Reconfiguration of the overly dominant road infrastructure places the emphasis back on civic life. Castle Gardens and the War Memorial are integrated with the new works and given a new prominence in the streetscape.
The Argyll Hotel reclaims its role as the focal point of a long urban axis from pier to town. The scheme is built from natural stone in subtle shades of silvery grey and charcoal, the small stone setts marking out areas for seating and lingering.
Client: Argyll and Bute Council
Budget: Landscape Works £2m
Timescale: Complete Summer 2018
