2015

Education & Culture, Hospitality, Waterfront, Research, Boutique scale, placemaking, Sustainability

Inspired by the work of Parley for the Oceans and their collaborative work with Adidas, G Star Raw using recycled ocean waste to create innovative products SPARK’s beach hut is fabricated from discarded plastic collected from the beaches and seas of SE Asia. SPARK’s proposed prototype beach hut for Singapore’s East Coast Park is intended to animate the shoreline and provide rentable occasional accommodation for the many “beach campers” who frequent the park on the weekend. At the same time it acts as an important vehicle for educating the public about the state of the world’s oceans and the problems caused by the flagrant dumping of plastic and other waste material into the sea. The skin of SPARK’s beach hut is manufactured from recycled HDPE (high density polyethylene) a plastic that makes up a large percentage of the plastic dumped into the ocean. The “scales” at the top of the hut are printed with thin film PV (photo-voltaic) generating sufficient power to support the interior fan and general LED lighting of the hut. The huts are naturally ventilated and self-sustainable, the scales can be opened like windows increasing air movement. The huts shelter the users in the traditional sense of the beach hut from wind and rain whilst providing a level of basic amenity, enjoyment and fun.