The long pier at Southend-on-Sea in England is a historic landmark that is to be transformed into a modern meeting-place with an environmental profile.

The international architectural competition attracted 74 practices and our winning proposal shows our ability to combine razor-sharp design with environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Our idea is a vibrant thoroughfare that starts as an extension of the town's main street and ends with a striking outdoor theatre, restaurant and culture centre offshore.

The outdoor theatre has a capacity of 500 where the audience will sit in shelter under the open sky with the sea all around and the coastline as backdrop. The new pier head can be seen as the starting point for the transformation of the entire pier into an urban boulevard.

The entire project will be integrated into the scenery at the location. The structural elements have borrowed their forms from the waves of the sea, and the three elements have been laid out to provide the best possible shelter and most spectacular views.