The Architect
Sean Compton was recently announced as the winner of the design competition for the redevelopment of the Blue Coral building in Castries, St. Lucia. His modernist submission embraces the new concepts of lifestyle-driven shopping and the promotion of multiple brands, boutiques and salons. With its innovative approach to environmental issues and, in particular, to the cooling of the building, the design incorporates distinctive and forward thinking features which it is hoped will inform the future development of the city centre. It is anticipated that the building will create a significant landmark for Castries.
Compton is no stranger to architectural competitions - whilst working with Glenn Howells in the UK, he was part of the awardwinning design team for the Courtyard Theatre and Arts Centre in Hereford, and for the Marketplace Theatre and Arts Centre in Armagh, Northern Ireland,; the same team was awarded second placed for its design of the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool. Before setting up his design studio back in St. Lucia, he also worked with Kennedy Haywards Architects in London on the winning entry for the Bermondsey Spa competition for mixed use and multi-residential redevelopment/regeneration.
The existing Blue Coral building occupies a prominent position in the heart of Castries (which was devastated by fire in 1796) and is an example of the postwar rebuilding of the city. Previously used as a department store, the long three-storey box spans the edge of a city block, with its principal commercial facades facing the thoroughfares of Bridge Street and William Peter Boulevard. Along the ground floor, glass display boxes wrap around three sides of the building, and a wide cantilevered canopy gives shade to passers by. Above this, a long, monotonous two-storey facade of hollow concrete airblocks, used to screen the windows behind, runs along Bridge Street, with an equally bland facade facing the William Peter Boulevard. The large horizontal mass of the building gives little architecturally to the city and belies the potential of both the building and its site.
The proposed design has at its core a fully integrated architectural strategy, in which the key design elements are also used as cooling devices for the building and to articulate the large mass. Externally, vertical brises soleil employed as solar control devices also articulate the facade, and break up the long horizontal mass of the building. Internally, free-form 'pods' penetrate the roof and floors, creating vertical shafts forming atria/lightwells and circulation spaces and providing passive ventilation and daylight to the two floors of seamlessly designed organic shopping spaces, boutiques and salons. It is hoped that it will also be possible to use at least one pod to connect the hypermarket on the ground floor with the floors above it, bringing light into the interior.
The proposal retains the existing cantilevered canopy, which will be refurbished and reclad, as well as many of the glass display boxes at ground floor. The facade to Bridge Street will be enlivened by the vertical freeform brises soleil in place of the existing hollow block screen. Made of perforated aluminium, these will give depth to the building and will introduce shade and diffused light into the interior. They will create a rhythm and depth along Bridge Street, with ever-changing shadows and light along the building facade throughout the day.
The elevation to the William Peter Boulevard is also given vertical emphasis with the creation of two-storey high 'display strips' for retail/event advertisement and large-scale graphics. These 'strips' are shaded by perforated aluminium screens - a modern interpretation of the jalousie shutters of traditional Caribbean architecture. The main body of the building, currently of precast concrete panels, will be overclad with colou1ed aluminium or terracotta panels.
The width of the sidewalk space along the William Peter Boulevard will be doubled, creating a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere, a more generous entrance, and facilitating the introduction of landscaping and street furniture that is so desperately needed in the heart of the city. It is envisioned that there will be a cafe on the ground floor with tables spilling out into the new urban landscape. Inside, the proposal is to move away from the cellular, boxed outlets of typical shopping-centre design and to create a freer shopping experience. "Internally," says Compton, "I felt that the flow of space, particularly between floors, was paramount to the experience and success of the building." To this end, three large organically shaped atria are inserted into the space, penetrating the floors, and providing a visual connection between stories. The shape and colour of each form also provide landmarks in the internal landscape.
Passive energy usage and cooling where possible are core components of the design and, with their lower running costs, will benefit both the client and the environment. In keeping with the ethos of inteqrated design the atria are used to create a 'stack' or 'thermal chimney' effect, whereby the hot air rises and is vented at the top, drawing in cooler air from outside via a plenum in the floor slabs. During the night, the cool night air will be passed through the slabs to pre-cool them; during the day, the air drawn in from the outside will be cooled by the slabs before being circulated in the building. The air movement through the slabs will be facilitated by mechanical ventilation when necessary (but particularly at night). Specific areas with a higher heat load will use 'chilled beams' for additional cooling. In this manner, it is hoped to avoid the use of an expensive, high maintenance and energy inefficient total air-conditioning plant. To reduce the lighting/electricity load, it is proposed that 'sunpipes' - highly mirrored tubes that bring daylight deeper into the building - be used in certain areas, in place of artificial lighting. Light fittings in common areas will be selected for energy usage as well as appearance. Hot water will be provided by solar panels.
Inside one of the atria, a spiral stair will continue up to the new fourth storey which will house the SkyGarden restaurant, with views over William Peter Boulevard and the city. Crowning the restaurant will be a composite aluminium/timber louvered canopy. The horizontal plane of this final addition will appear to hover above the corner of the building, lending dramatic impact to the design.
Compton's design is also cognizant of the appearance of the building at night. An integrated lighting scheme will illuminate the building's most distinctive features, including the roof of the restaurant and the brises soliel.
On holidays, national days, festivals and significant events, pre-designed coloured lighting schemes will integrate the building into the spirit of the city. Blue Coral Limited, who at present owns the building, is helping shape a vision for Castries in which it is hoped the proposed new " building will become a model for creative (renewal and innovation, and a catalyst for further urban regeneration.
This article is featured in "The Caribbean Architect", V3 I1, The Regional Trade Publication for Architects, Interior Designers and the Construction Industry".