Transformation and durability: Red Sand Fort, intervention in the Thames Estuary

Authors’ Comment

The project proposes the revitalization of the Red Sand fort by creating an underwater museum. Visitors will be able to explore the underwater space, thus discovering an innovation of World War II military architecture.

During World War II, the German military began attacking British waters using a new weapon, the magnetic mine (bombs that exploded upon contact with large metal objects, such as a British ship). These attacks prompted the British Army to respond with its own innovation: the construction of multiple anti-aircraft fort complexes. The Red Sand Fort is the only one that has stood the test of time.
After the war, it was abandoned and later became an attractive site for illegal radio transmissions. For many years, the fort operated as a pirate radio station until the British government changed legislation, forcing the operators to leave.

Currently, the Red Sand Fort is in an advanced stage of degradation, but has become a fascinating point of interest for artists. Its location on the south-west coast, in the proximity of major cities, contributes to this attraction. The nearest town, Whitstable, hosts Kent’s largest community of artists, strengthening the fort's connection with the artistic world.

The defining feature of these towers is their walkways, which transformed the objects into a functional network. The project proposes to bring them back in a reinterpreted way, through a vertical development, thus creating new ways of interacting with the space, offering visitors a unique and dynamic experience. New elements, such as stairs, platforms, and enclosed spaces, foster this dialogue with the historic fort.

The low water level allows space exploration in a unique way. The underwater museum offers new perspectives on the old towers, particularly their structure and foundation.

Flexibility and adaptability are central to this project. The entire building has been designed modularly, allowing for future assembly and disassembly. In this way, the project can evolve to meet future needs, remaining relevant and functional in the long term.