Tropicana revamp will add 'unique silhouette' to skyline

The former seafront lido, which hosted Banksy’s Dismaland and the SEE Monster, is being turned into a major 5,000-seater arts, culture, and entertainment venue in a project funded by the government's Levelling Up Fund.

The transformation will see the 1980s indoor venue on the site replaced with a new “purpose built” indoor venue which will raise the profile of the Tropicana — literally.

The designers behind the new building say it will add another “unique silhouette” to the skyline of the Weston-super-Mare seafront.

You can view the designs and speak to the architects at two drop in events at the Tropicana from 4pm to 7pm today (Friday, September 13) and 11am to 3pm tomorrow (Saturday, September 14).

The Tropicana has played host to the SEE Monster sculpture. (Image: Newsquest)

Dieter Kleiner, director of architecture firm RCKa who are behind the designs, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “For the new event venue, it will be great if it sits within the existing family of buildings along the Promenade.”

He added that the current “very low lying” building did not have a strong presence, and creating an indoor venue with more presence would help new visitors in town know where it was.

The new venue could have a wavy rooftop design of a similar height to Revo. Mr Kleiner said: “There’s an idea that we are now looking at the details of how we can realise that.”

Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member with responsibility for placemaking, added: “You only have to look at Revo at night when it's lit. This will be another feature. 

“You will have the Pier, you will have Revo, amd you will have this further along the seafront.”

Banksy's 'bemusement' park Dismaland at the Tropicana in 2015. (Image: Archant)

RCKa are also planning to preserve the historic and 1930s building facing out onto the Promenade, with the bricked-up balustrades on the terrace restored, new lighting, and repointing and painting to details of the building.

Mr Kleiner said: “That’s a serious-ish symmetrical building and that is made more serious and the building behind it is made more playful if there is a contrast to that.”

The “social value-”focussed architecture firm is based in London but with an office in Bristol and one member of the team has moved to Weston-super-Mare to work on the project.

Asked how different the Tropicana was to their other regeneration work Kleiner said: “We have not done one in the sea before.”

But he added: “No building looks the same because we are very much responding to the people in the place and the needs of that community.”

Local artist Karen Blake is working with the project to collect people’s memories and stories about the Tropicana for a piece of art.

Mr Kleiner said: “Because its a flexible building that an operator can make their own, we don’t want to miss the opportunity to capture the rich history of the area.

“It’s a nod to the history and heritage and the role that it has played in people’s lives over the years.”

North Somerset Council launched its hunt for an “experienced venue operator” to take on the new purpose-built venue and run it for the next 20 years last week and has already received applications in the double figures.

Mr Solomon said: “It’s nice to know that we are already in double figures with the interest we are getting.”

Applications to run the venue are open until 11am on Friday October 4. For more information, visit the Supplying the South West procurement website here (reference: DN740601): https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk/