A landmark on the Kent coast is poised for a new chapter as the Tracey Emin Foundation secures planning approval to convert Westbrook Loggia in Margate into an arts and community hub. Designed by Waugh Thistleton Architects, the project will give the vacant 1910 Edwardian bathing pavilion a renewed purpose, combining contemporary art, creative studios and public leisure facilities. The approval marks another milestone in Emin’s commitment to her hometown’s cultural future.
From Edwardian bathing pavilion to cultural hub
Purchased by Emin for £800,000 in 2023, Westbrook Loggia had stood empty for around five years. The approved plans outline 1,050 square metres of gallery, studio, hospitality and community space across two floors, alongside public bathing facilities.
The ground floor will house artists’ studios, a restaurant, saunas and changing rooms, with coffee and ice cream counters opening onto the promenade. Upstairs, a café, galleries and a flexible events space will host cultural and community gatherings.
Waugh Thistleton Architects restore the pavilion’s Edwardian character
The architectural scheme combines heritage restoration with contemporary interventions. Lost features, including the pavilion’s distinctive rooftop belvederes, will be reconstructed in lightweight steel with copper roofs, while later additions will be removed. A new arched colonnade and recessed terrace will reshape the ground-floor frontage, complemented by a rooftop wind shelter.
The design revives the building’s original proportions and architectural character without resorting to historical imitation, reconnecting the pavilion with its seafront surroundings.
For Emin, whose cultural initiatives in Margate include TKE Studios and artist residency programmes, Westbrook Loggia marks a further investment in the town’s creative community. With preparatory work underway, the project is progressing towards construction, although no opening date has been announced. Approved conditions include restrictions on amplified music and rooftop terrace access between 7 am and 10 pm.
Once complete, Westbrook Loggia will offer Margate a new cultural meeting point, giving an overlooked piece of Edwardian architecture a renewed place in the town’s seaside life.
Rendering of Westbrook Pavilion. Courtesy of WAUGH THISTLETON
