The east coast’s largest independently owned marina, Suffolk Yacht Harbour, has announced completion of its modern new amenities project. The spacious facility which was designed by Wincer Kievenaar and built by Ipswich-based BRC, has been finished to the highest specification, putting them amongst the most exclusive marina facilities in the UK. SYH managing director Jonathan Dyke comments, “Whilst there are many fantastic marinas on the east coast, it is important that we attract visitors from the south coast and further afield. The new facilities are part of our ongoing investment plan to ensure we are offering a consistently high quality service to berth-holders and new marina users.”
Craig Western, director at Wincer Kievenaar, adds, “The original brief simply put, was to raise the bar of UK yachting facilities to a standard that would not be out of place in a spa hotel. In addition, for facilities of this nature it was important to ensure the fixtures and materials were robust and fit for purpose.”
The building has been designed to be both contemporary and practical, with individual wet and dry areas, under floor heating, LED lighting and the very latest in sanitary ware. Vaulted ceilings were constructed to allow maximum light and ventilation to the modern tiled facilities below. Every detail has been considered; from heated mirrors to prevent them ‘steaming up’ to heated seats in the shower cubicles and an ultra-efficient heat recovery extraction system, which removes steam but doesn’t reduce the room temperature.
Craig adds, “Wincer Kievenaar has had a close working relationship with the yacht harbour for many years. The practice has worked with Jonathan to continually develop and improve facilities available at the harbour and to bring a degree of architectural cohesion to the entire site.”
Malcolm Algar of Ipswich-based BRC has also been an important part of the yacht harbour’s journey and as well as the newly completed shower facilities, has constructed the award-winning Chandlery, the Harbour Room function suite and the vastly improved workshops. 