Bude’s Lifeboat history goes back as far as the 1850’s and the new building is one of several RNLI Lifeboat Stations in Cornwall and Devon designed by The Bazeley Partnership.

Intended to be viewed from a variety of vantage points, the new building provides a focus for its setting.  It has no dominant façade, but aims to be visually interesting on all elevations and if viewed from above, has a circular, shell-like form.

The ground floor accommodates changing facilities and on the upper level a glass-fronted, circular crew room gives a panoramic view of the harbour. During launch and recovery of the lifeboat, this crew room provides unobstructed surveillance of the route across the beach and out to sea past the Bude breakwater.

Special consideration was given to the specification of materials that were sustainable, but also capable of withstanding the effects of severe weather in such an exposed maritime environment.

Photography by Girts Galens