The UK’s Coastline is dotted with decaying Victorian resort towns, which would have once been vibrant gathering places for residents of nearby cities. This project has focused on reviewing and reviving the neglected Victorian resort town of Helensburgh; on the West Coast of Scotland. Unlike other resort towns – many of which evolved from industrial settlements-, Helensburgh has been solely reliant on the sensitive industry of tourism since the area was founded. The introduction of accessible/affordable overseas travel and package holidays saw a reduction in the demand for domestic tourism. Consequently, the economy of the area -and many other seaside towns- has declined drastically over the past 50 years.

Helensburgh stands out from other seaside towns due to its interesting residential demographic. Most resort towns have become either very deprived or very wealthy following the decline of domestic tourism (dependent on whether they have transitioned into commuter towns or continued to rely on tourism trade). In Helensburgh, the residential demographic is unlike any other resort town, with high densities of the wealthiest 5% living as little as 200m from high densities of the most deprived 5%. Subsequently, a unique brief for the revival of the area was required.

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An exploration aimed at integrating a mixed typology building into the town, to satisfy the needs of the divided “wealthy and deprived” communities which reside in the area, has been carried out. The result is a building which provides users with mixed production and
pleasure facilities, in which the divided communities are united. The view of reviving a resort town has been taken from the inside out; the purpose of the town is no longer to serve visitors, but rather to serve residents. The development has examines healing the town for those living there, rather than creating a holiday destination for those visiting.