Earlier this year, in a bold attempt to forget Snøhetta + Spence’s waveform vision for Margate, KCC made the decision to entrust David Chipperfield Architects with the design for the Turner Contemporary.

Upon their appointment, the firm, known for their understated brand of modernism, announced they could have the gallery open by 2010 on a budget of £17.4m. With this in mind, we decided to comment on some of their previous projects and make a suggestion or two as to what we might expect for Margate.

America’s Cup Building
Valencia, 2006

One of Chipperfield’s most recent buildings, the America’s Cup Building was designed, built and opened in staggeringly short 11 months. The building’s setting is much alike the Turner Contemporary’s – so we can see what might crossover to Margate.

The America’s Cup Building is constructed from steel, concrete and glass; the seafront location of the Turner Contemporary means it will likely use similarly robust materials. Also notice that the main building is raised up from it’s exposed position on the water’s edge. I rather expect we will end up with something more solid and less open air since the respective uses and climates are so different in these cases.

Estepona Theatre
Estepona, Spain, 2009

Chipperfield’s sweeping design for the Estepona Theatre wouldn’t look out of place along side the modernist houses at Palm Bay.
Chipperfield despises insular buildings that have no “dialogue with anything around them, or with history” – so there is the strong possibility of a restrained building that spreads out and makes use of other elements of the site.

It is a happy accident that KCC, determined to commission an iconic building for Margate, have appointed an architect who sensibly opposes building architectural “icons” for the sake of it.

“I’m not purposely avoiding making an icon. An icon just happens… Clients now say that they are looking for an icon, and I know that means it has got to look blobby… Design objects of the 20th century became icons because of how beautiful they were or how successful they were. Now we have to have an instant icon. It has to say it’s an icon at the very point of delivery.”

Chipperfield’s buildings are the antithesis of the waveform architecture trend – they create buildings of restraint, purpose and elegance.

In a twist of fate Margate has found a man level-headed enough to understand the importance of doing it right.

“I think that the point of being an architect is to help raise the experience of everyday living, even a little… None of this means designing funny shapes or getting politicians to go ‘wow’ or making the media think you’re the new thing. It takes a lot of patience, a lot of experience, and a lot of unfashionable thought”.

Through David Chipperfield, Margate will get a beautiful, impressive (and dare we say it, iconic) building to be proud of.

Read more of our sources at:
The Guardian : “In Britain, money and marketing are what matters most”
Icon: David Chipperfield
David Chipperfield Architects
City Of Sound: Chipperfield on Building for Regeneration