Architect wants his work to be loved

It is an ambitious dream. Indeed some would say the idea of building a structure that could one day rival the West Pier for a place in the hearts of the people of Brighton and Hove verges on fantasy.

But the calm, confident tones of James Eyre give the impression anything is possible.

As director of Wilkinson Eyre Architects, he is part of the Barratt-Brunswick consortium vying for the chance to revamp Hove seafront with a bid for the King Alfred site.

Although the recent arson attack on the prized pier left him saddened, he believes its unique status could live on.

He said: "The fire on the pier was so sad. It's a real tragedy that it happened, especially as it now seems the pier is beyond saving.

"These seaside structures are the sort that don't get made anymore and it's a great shame for Brighton.

"But with any luck, the new project for the King Alfred could be a step in the right direction in finding a substitute."

At 44, he is 30 years younger than Frank Gehry, his sole rival after the bid headed by Lord Rogers was struck out by Brighton and Hove City Council.

Yet despite Gehry's experience and CV, which reads like a where's where of world architecture and includes the dazzling likes of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, James is no wallflower.

He said: "We are not intimidated by the opposition.

"I think youthful exuberance might be a good way to describe the advantage we might have.

"We are just beginning to hit our prime."

It is not just youth and confidence, however, which have caused the council to put faith in the group's proposal.

Wilkinson Eyre has won the Stirling Prize for architecture for the past two years running, most recently for the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, or Blinking Eye, which spans the Tyne.

The smooth contours of the bridge have been echoed in the lavish, modern design submitted for the shore-side Hove development.

The plan has drawn comparisons with the infamous Sydney Opera House but this leaves James baffled.

He said: "I find it puzzling.

"I suppose the pointedness of it may remind people of the opera house but I don't think it's like it.

"Our building is composed of flat planes and is more curvey."

The striking design pivots on a ribbon formation, stretching across the site to create a sleek, space-age appearance.

James explained the flowing design reflected the action of the waves on the shore below.

He said: "It has a quality of the sea about it, with a ribbon-like structure folded up in a series of volumes and the interplay of different forms and shapes.

"We are trying to link the development, both physically and metaphorically."

But he added he did not just want to create a piece of art, especially in Brighton and Hove.

He said: "It is important that this should be a community building and not a developer's building.

"We must not start a precedent in Brighton and Hove for buildings like that along the seafront as it could ruin it.

"I wouldn't like to see that.

"But the building does need to have a contemporary feel, which is what you would expect in a city such as Brighton and Hove - especially since there isn't that much contemporary architecture of good quality in the city.

"It needs to be something distinctive in a forward-looking city."

He cautioned, however, that big does not necessarily equal beautiful.

He said: "A building does not have to be big to make an impact.

"What is important is that the structure is inextricably linked to that particular site and could not work on any other one.

"It has to be a destination in its own right and with that in mind we paid particular attention to the sports centre."

This could perhaps have been the key to the group's passage into the last two, with council chiefs citing a lack of emphasis placed on the sports centre as reason for rejecting the bid by the Richard Rogers Partnership.

Although he admits to pushing the boundaries, he also said he expected the design to last.

James said: "I am confident that we will produce a building that will be timeless.

"Modern architecture should be loved, but most importantly it should provoke a reaction.

"It is important for people not to be neutral about it."

James, belying a strong social conscience, also emphasised the site must not become a battleground between the rich and the poor.

He said: "We don't want there to be a big and obvious gap between the affordable housing and the rest.

"Although some are obviously better than others, all the flats have sea views so there isn't a major division between them.

"There is a social equality agenda there."

Brighton and Hove represents more than just a professional interest for the Surrey-born architect.

His memories of trips to the seaside as a child have nurtured a fascination with a city.

He said: "I remember going there as a child and always finding it an inspiring place.

"There was always a buzz about the place.

"Considering most seaside places in England have a staid and unfashionable image, Brighton and Hove has managed to maintain a 'cool' one with its great cultural and social life.

"It is definitely a town unlike any other.

"People often talk about it as London by the sea but you can't subjugate the identity of one city to another.

"It needs to play on its cool image."

He recalls a burgeoning interest in architecture from an early age and knew he wanted to be an architect when he was 12.

He said: "There aren't many professions where you can combine both science and art.

"I always seemed to be attuned to buildings and objects and say whether I liked them or not."

His biggest fear is that architecture will be shunted out of the limelight, as has happened in the United States.

He said: "In the US there are lots of dull buildings going up and it doesn't happen very often that you see a great building.

"My worry is that architecture could become marginalised, although I don't think that will happen.

"My job is to make sure it doesn't."

The winner of the contract will be announced late next month or in early June.