In October 2007 the Royal Incorporation of Architects (RIAS) in Scotland organised an open competition on behalf of McLaughlin Construction, the site owner, and the Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company for a residential development in a prominent location close to the seafront at Ardrossan main beach.

In order to respond to the site's context and it's positioning within the town of Saltcoats, our approach was to complete and in turn reinforce the existing edge condition whilst respecting the adjacent buildings in scale and materiality. The scheme's use of bricks provides an economic and contrasting definition to the buildings form and mass. The dark brick skin introduces a subtle contrast to adjacent structures while a variety of brick bonding and patterns reinforce the rich fabric. Light and ventilation penetrations help bring the building alive at night adding to the tower element's urban marker characteristic.