British artist Tracey Emin is expanding her cultural presence in Margate with plans to transform the long-neglected Westbrook Loggia into a £5 million arts hub devoted to creativity, community and public life. The project is now entering the planning process, with designs by Waugh Thistleton recently unveiled.
Tracey Emin’s new arts hub will revive Margate’s Westbrook Loggia
Built in 1910 as a seaside shelter and social space, Westbrook Loggia has stood derelict for years. Emin began pursuing its revival in 2020, and the latest plans would turn the historic pavilion into an 11,000-square-foot cultural destination.
The arts hub will combine artists’ studios and an events space with a restaurant, sauna, public facilities, and kiosks serving coffee and ice cream. The aim is to restore the pavilion as a lively meeting point for art, everyday life and the seafront.
Waugh Thistleton’s design draws on the building’s original character, reinstating lost features including rooftop belvederes, an arched colonnade and public terrace. Surviving elements, including the arched entrance windows and cast-iron balustrade, will be retained.
Tracey Emin and the Cultural Transformation of Margate
The project deepens Emin’s long-standing commitment to her hometown. After returning from London a decade ago, the Margate native founded TKE Studios, providing affordable studios, gallery spaces and artist residencies.
Her work has helped shape Margate’s cultural revival, though the town’s rapid transformation has also raised concerns over rising rents and benefits for local residents. Through initiatives such as TKE Studios’ Perfect Place to Grow café and training kitchen, Emin supports young people facing barriers to employment.
The Tracey Emin Margate project continues this effort to build an arts infrastructure rooted in the town and its community.
