Visible from long distances both from the hills in land, and along the coastal pathway, the proposed café will sit in a prominent and sensitive location adjacent to the SSSI of the Shaw Meadow and Sea Pasture.

The landscape changes dramatically at the coastline of the Western Lakes, with the open grassland areas leading to the beaches being a distinct contrast to the mountains of the Lake District. That landscape means that a linear, low form with a simple silhouette against the sea can be successfully merged into the natural setting.

Our design uses a long load bearing battered slate wall with openings to frame views of the sea and of Black Combe for both users of the coastal path and visitors to the café. The roofscape is a simple timber pre-fabricated modular “A frame” pitch with slate finish offset on plan round the single chimney from the wood-burning stove.

The proposal sits on the Cumbrian coastal pathway which is being upgraded, and as such we have taken the opportunity to place the built form immediately on that path, with the café wall acting as a defined eastern edge to the path, and a new textured concrete ramp dropping from the car-park as part of this proposal allowing level access to a “beach landing” area, and for those in more robust wheelchairs, access to the beach is possible.

The ramp will lead to a level hard standing zone which will have an outdoor shower and built in seating to allow walkers and beach users to sit and change footwear/shower after swimming, angling, surfing or horse riding.

A secure tethering point can be provided here for horses to allow the café to be a regular stop on beach rides.

This location on the beach, and the area protected on the eastern side of the wall at the car park level could be adapted to allow outdoor sports/activity businesses to set up and serve the visitor community.

To the east of the building the car park can be re-graded with hardcore and gravel to make good after construction, and to allow for wheelchair user parking, possible electric car/bike charging points, and bike hoops which can be placed adjacent to the parking area at the south end of the secondary spine wall.

The café plan is designed to be as flexible as possible, with an open, light filled sense of space, allowing for summer and winter use, closing down the space in the winter to create a sense of warmth and comfort.

Given the varied weather the coast can experience we felt that the winter café should adapt to create a safe haven, gathering round the fire. The main sliding doors to the east and west are open on the warmest days of summer, and create a route from the car park to the beach, which links via folding/sliding doors to the outside seating, creating a connection to the beach and indoor seating.

We are very aware of the prevailing winds, and the frequency with which these winds will make outdoor seating feel exposed. The proposal includes for an open framed area which will have wind screening canvas panels and transparent plastic roller blinds allowing for the area to be part enclosed, and therefore used over a longer period from spring to autumn. Doors can be closed according to wind direction if needed for safety.

The café has a dark coloured polished concrete floor which retains the heat of the sun over the day, using the solar heat to lift the ambient temperature, with the option to run underfloor heating pipes in the concrete from a pre-heater in the wood burning stove to reduce operational costs.

In the heart of the plan is the wood-burning stove which by use of thermal mass will heat the slate wall, to act as a storage heater.

A small dry wood store is located by the bin store and wood can be dried here before being brought into a low-level wood shelf adjacent to the stove. The space between the entrance and café is where the timber frame from the roof drops to meet the ground and this warm material (we envisage using Scottish spruce) creates a human, physical response due to the natural warmth of the wood and it’s evocative aroma.