Maritime Quarter
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The Maritime Quarter is a residential area of Swansea, South Wales located immediately south of the city centre. It falls within Swansea's Castle ward. It is also known as Swansea Marina or simply The Marina. The area is bounded by Brynmill to the west, Swansea Bay to the South, the River Tawe to the east and the A4067 to the north.
The area consists mainly of apartment blocks. The apartments range from one bedroom studios to three bedroom flats. There are few houses in the area but the number of houses are set to increase with the development of the south-eastern area.
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[edit] History
Formerly the South Dock, during the 1980s it underwent significant brownfield re-development in the early 1980's with the building of many low rise apartment blocks in the area around the South Dock. On the site of the Sainsbury's superstore, once stood the Weaver building. Used for corn storage, it was the first steel reinforced concrete building ever built.
Originally the city council decided to fill in the South Dock. This was done by a developer whose brother was a councillor at the local council. Later on, the same company was paid to dig out the South Dock again to create the marina. The developer is now imprisoned in Swansea Prison.
The re-excavated South Dock was laid out into the award-winning Maritime Quarter by architect Robin Campbell, then head of Environmental Design at Swansea Council. The brief was to make the area an extension of Swansea City centre, and not a separate suburb, and to work in walk ways through the overall development being created by numerous building companies. Campbell also worked in partnership with the developers to incorporate art designed by local artists into the buildings, and the creation of an observatory.
Over time small businesses have gradually moved in, giving the area the character of a small urban village.
[edit] Marina
The South Dock itself now serves as marina, part of the Swansea Marina complex providing berths for privately-owned leisure boats. Sailing and sea angling schools are located in the area.
In addition to the Quay Parade road bridge just to the north, there are two pedestrian bridges linking this area to the main Swansea docks area - the Sail bridge and the lock bridge. The Sail bridge as its name suggests is designed to look like a sail shape. The lock bridge is a steel structure built over the Tawe barrage. The western section of the lock bridge is a swing bridge over the lock located on the Tawe barrage.
The water areas are not fully protected by railings. Local residents have often expressed concerns over the safety of the lack of railings and indeed, over the years, the marina has seen a number of people drowning after having fallen into the waters by accident.
[edit] Amenities
The headquarters of the local South Wales Evening Post newspaper is located here. Beside the Evening Post building is the Associated British Ports building, now used as a five-star hotel. Just west of the marina is a four star hotel. A new building called the Marina Tower is under construction next to the hotel. This is set to be the tallest building in Swansea. A waterside walkway to the north-east of the marina is home to a few cafes, pubs, arcades and gay bars. On the far western end of the Maritime quarter is the Civic Centre which houses government offices of the City and County of Swansea council.
Located in the area are:
- National Waterfront Museum
- Dylan Thomas Centre
- Dylan Thomas Theatre
- Swansea Museum
- Swansea Leisure Centre
- Swansea observatory
The square surrounded by the National Waterfront Museum, the old Pump House and shopping area contains a statue of Dylan Thomas.
[edit] Swansea Point
Swansea point is a new residential development in the south eastern corner of the area adjacent to the riverside and the seafront. The developments consist of a number of flats and townhouses along with a public car park. The seafront promenade has been extended from the existing residential areas to the west to be connected up with a path beside the River Tawe.
[edit] Meridian Quay
Meridian Quay is a high density commercial and residential development currently under construction. The development will add 291 apartments to the Maritime Quarter area. The most significant part of the development is the 29 storey Marina Tower, which will become the tallest building in Swansea. There will be four smaller towers of 9/10 storeys and a few 6 storey blocks. The area in the immediate vicinity will be developed into public space, including the new Meridian Square.
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