Eyemouth Pavillions

Making waves in Eyemouth

In the rural fishing town of Eyemouth, a former fishmarket has been transformed into a modern and sustainable community space.

Eyemouth Harbour Trust wanted to create a ‘new public anchor’ for the waterfront Conservation Area, regenerating the area with a flexible civic space. They provided the site of the former fishmarket, but Galmstrup Architects had bigger plans. They persuaded the client to take an urban approach, opening up a much larger site.

Referencing heritage

Galmstrup created a series of pavilions with winter gardens on the ground floor and studios above. The maritime setting is reflected in both the form and materials of the building. The playful roof profile pays homage to the town’s boat-making history and the pitched roofs of the conservation area. Meanwhile, the main structural timber is continued into the cladding, laid in ship-lap profile as another nod to the setting.

Coastally consistent

Galmstrup Architects selected Russwood’s Thermopine® cladding for its stability and high performance in a more challenging coastal environment. This was enhanced with the addition of SiOO:X® coating, to produce a consistently weathered appearance on all four facades. The mid-grey tone blends into the maritime environment and the colour of the Scottish sky.

Simplicity in practice

Window and corner treatments were kept simple, letting the timber do the talking. Themopine® has little movement compared to traditional timber, so corners were mitre cut. For the window treatments, the architects let the cladding overhang where possible, with the ventilation gap revealing the window into the bustling community life beyond.