The conversion of an iconic military structure
People often associate conservation with solely preserving a historical site or building. But sustainable conservation can offer an alternative – to integrate such places into modern life. So much of our work here at Peter Wells Architects is based on this philosophy and sometimes a project comes along that really embodies this ethos. We are working on the conversion of this incredible piece of military architecture into a modern residential home.
The building itself is an unusual concrete structure and one of the most complete 20th century coastal batteries in existence. Military buildings are not unusual on the Suffolk Coast; old tank blocks, pill boxes and coastal defences pop up on every corner. But the Battery Observation Post is unique, even in this area.
Bawdsey, the village that the Post is closest to, played a crucial role in the Second World War. RAF had primary use of the area and created RAF Bawdsey. Positioned between two key outposts which held significant stores of guns – Felixstowe and Aldeburgh – the village became the home of radar. Radar was instrumental in identifying airborne attacks and the village became a hub for research into military communications and interception. Bawdsey was an operational focal point, a place where strategy was discussed and technology tried. Highly covert operations were carried out at this base.
However, this area is unsuitable for use of heavy machinery. The land is boggy and prone to spring flooding and this left a large stretch of coast unguarded.
In 1940, the Bawdsey Battery Observational Post was built to mitigate this issue. Placed almost immediately on the shoreline, it sits on the very western end of Hollesley Bay, a tactically crucial piece of land that extends all the way to Orford Ness. During its operation period, two searchlights flagged the Post, both with a range up to 3200m. The building itself consists of a partially underground basement with loopholes, a ground floor with two further floors above. The top floor has an armoured steel roof once supported by corner posts, which permitted all round vision.
As an observation post, the building is almost complete. It is the Post’s condition along with its situation which makes it such an attractive prospect for conversion.
The Approach
Our plans to convert this structure are based on the ideology ‘retain and repair’. The change of use of this building would mean that there is a definitive responsibility to ensure the longevity of the structure. This prevents the possibility that this piece of history ultimately falls into degradation.
Any project that features a historical building such as the Battery Observational Post warrants a rigorous planning process. As such, we submitted a pre-application letter to the council to open conversation around the validity of this project and the onward process for planning permission. The response from the planning department indicates that they are amenable to further conversation on the creative conversation of this structure.
The process of obtaining permission for a project like this will never be swift or straightforward. It’s imperative that there is a thorough investigation into the local history and ecology of the plot. Aligning with our retain and repair strategy, we welcome this work and see it as an opportunity to enhance the integration of our designs. It’s also crucial that we allow for alternative and explorative thinking in this project, to find avenues of design that really honour this structure. We look forward to bringing you the next stage on this journey.
