One of the less vaunted aspects of this Maritime year is the re-decoration of the Hull’s Marina. Our street furniture correspondent Angus Young takes a walk amongst the oddities.
After just over a year hidden behind hoardings, the eastern walkway along Hull Marina has re-opened for people to once again enjoy a stroll next to the boats. Humber Dock Street has gone through many changes since the dock itself opened in 1809 but it’s never looked like this.
The makeover has been carried out on behalf of Hull City Council by contractors CR Reynolds with funding coming from National Highways. However, the most influential name in the mix is LDA Consulting, the architectural landscape company responsible for its design. “We create places where people belong,” says the LDA website.
Having previously worked in Hull on a new design for the main entrance to West Park, Humber Dock Street is another high footfall location. So does it all work?
First impressions are favourable. The space between the actual street and the waterfront seems fresh, colourful and neatly finished. The main promenade itself has been re-paved and there are smart-looking new chain railings running the length of the dock. But the most eye-catching design elements lie along what is being described as a linear park, including new seating, planting areas and play features.
The concept of introducing play in new urban design was first tried in Hull as part of the city centre public realm works ahead of the 2017 City of Culture with the installation of the walk-through fountains in Queen Victoria Square. A decade later, the LDA team has taken play to a new level with Minecraft-style granite blocks set along the route of the Old Town Walls. They’re seats but they’re also mini-climbing challenges for little kids while they also incorporate lines marking where the walls once stood. The modern building blocks are also a playful nod to the historic brick defences. The lines of the old walls were there before but now they include an extension mapping out the footprint of the former Hessle Gate entrance to the town.
Adding to the fun are a couple of funnel sculptures, a drinking fountain and, er, a giant snail. “Why the snail?” I asked a council spokesperson. “It’s a sensory element and also ties in with a natural/explorative and adventure concept of the play area,” I was told.
There’s also some clever tech stuff. New mooring bollards are equipped with charging points to provide power to vessels while there’s a funky air pressure pump near Humber Street if the tyres on your bike need some extra air. A selection of spanners are also available if a wheel change is required.
A couple of older features have been retained and given a Spring clean – the 1866 winding engine enclosed in a glazed bubble and a swordfish sculpture which forms part of the Fish Trail.
If I have one quibble it’s the lack of any real maritime references in the new designs except for the two funnels. I also wonder whether it will all survive the inevitable wear and tear from being next to Humber Dock Street’s many bars.
In addition, because it’s all new and shiny the other dockside areas around the Marina look decidedly shabby and neglected. A lick of paint here and there and some weeding would work wonders.