Film studios: The film complex has been located behind the leading hill, running horizontally across the site from the north to the south, approximately matching the existing site contours. It did not need sea views, but did need protection from prevailing weather. The hill screens it visually, and only the leading end and public face of the complex would be visible. This public face is kept to a minimum because the nature of the complex is predominantly industrial. The ‘public face’ would be of a higher quality, including the operational headquarters for the facility, and would provide high quality working environments with sea views. The front of the whole development is located adjacent a manmade lake, because this would provide both a setting and also a barrier between uses. The centre of the site forms a natural shallow valley, and this helped to minimise the scale of the operation. It also maximised the operational opportunities for the development by enabling the whole complex to remain essentially level. Car parking and workshops are located between the primary studio building and the hill, effectively screening them from the rest of the site. To the east of the complex, as the hill starts to rise, the Post-Production offices have been located to the outside edge to form an enclosure to the whole development. It also gives each office the opportunity to have a long distance sea view to the north east and south east, without impacting upon the existing view from the coast. These offices and workshops would look across to the studios from an elevated position, reinforcing their unique relationship with the studios by being intrinsically linked but separate from the primary facility.
Educational Facility: The educational facility is located adjacent to the studio facility. Both present a public face to the square, and sit along the level valley which runs from north to south across the site. The educational facility starts to engage with the rise in the level of the ground by being split level. Three storeys of accommodation address the east and look into the courtyard gardens, whilst two storeys look west towards the student accommodation. Both buildings flank and protect the south facing courtyard gardens to provide a welcoming external environment to be used by both facilities. The southerly end of the educational facility links with the Student Union and access up the hill towards the student accommodation.
Public Building: The Public Building sits on the most prominent part of the site and faces out to sea. It seems to float above the new lake, and addresses the public square between the studio and the educational facility. This location was chosen because it greets visitors to the development as they approach. It also acts as a communications centre between the studios and the various aspects of the educational facilities. It provides a pleasant and welcoming approach to the development.
Eateries: The eateries are located between the studio and educational facilities. This enables them to serve both facilities whilst also retaining their independence. The building serves to enclose the north end of the courtyard gardens, thus giving them protection from the prevailing winds. The inner end of the building therefore faces south, and thus provides a sheltered sunny environment in which to eat.
Student Accommodation: The student accommodation is located within the parkland, and halfway between the leisure facilities and the educational facilities. It straddles a direct link between these two facilities. Movement through this facility is intended to be pedestrian or bicycle, and so the buildings have been moved away from the primary roads.
Hotel: The hotel is situated at the top of the site, with sea views out over the top of the development. The hotel complex runs horizontally across the site, approximately matching the existing site contours. The hotel links to a sloped south facing public square for bar and restaurant locations. This square is flanked by the conferencing and leisure accommodation, creating a protected square off the primary route, and adjacent the hotel entry.
