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The two winners of the I Am Guernsey competition have set out their individual ideas for developments to help make the island the best place in the world to live.
I Am Guernsey is the island’s first digital–only ideas competition and, after numerous entries, organisers Livingroom and PF+A chose the best junior and adult winners - Kerys Chamberlain and Stefan de Laune.
Livingroom and PF+A have brought to life the winning ideas with detailed plans and artist impressions.
Fourtenn-year-old Kerys Chamberlain’s idea involved establishing a fast ferry passenger service linking St Sampson’s and St Peter Port. She took her inspiration from the hotly debated issue of transport in Guernsey and incorporated the desire to regenerate St Sampson’s and reduce traffic and pollution. By utilising the reclaimed land in St Sampson’s for public car parks, the service offers an alternative to paid parking for commuters, shoppers and visitors.
Livingroom director, Simon Torode, believes that the idea has the potential to change the way islanders think about public transport.
“Kerys’ idea, B2T, is a fast, easy and affordable ferry passenger service which benefits the island in a multitude of ways and is exactly the kind of innovation the judges were looking for. It could reduce traffic on our busiest roads, save us time and maximise use of our most abundant resource - the sea that surrounds us. It would also reduce pollution to bring Guernsey into the 21st century and benefit many generations as well as breathing new life into both St Peter Port and St Sampson’s retail areas."
Kerys Chamberlain said: “I wanted to enter I Am Guernsey because I love our island and I believe there is so much potential which has not yet been fulfilled. We are really lucky to have a unique outdoor environment and I wanted to think about how we could use it in a new way. There is so much hustle and bustle along the front because of traffic and a lack of parking. The water taxis could help to solve this problem, reduce pollution and would be great fun at the same time. I really enjoyed coming up with my ideas and it was so exciting to win and see the final designs.”
Stefan de Laune’s vision was of a flourishing marina development at Grand Havre, called Port de Vie, with a contained and protected lagoon and thriving west coast marina providing the island with flood protection, tidal energy, schools’ wildlife education facility, breakwater walkways and communal all weather picnic areas.
“Winning the competition has been a great experience as my idea was brought to life through architect and artist impressions. I would like to thank the creators of I AM GUERNSEY for inventing a fresh thinking competition which has challenged myself and the public to create an even better place to live. I will be participating again and would encourage anyone with an idea to get involved next year," he said.
PF+A director, John Hibbs, said: “Stefan’s idea is truly inspiring. He has thoroughly considered all aspects of what a marina development of this nature could include. He has come up with a compelling and beautiful concept on how can we protect Guernsey, help our sea defences, harvest natural energy and provide a beautiful leisure environment for generations to come. This competition was designed to encourage and nurture ideas that could improve island life and potentially form part of future planning for Guernsey. Both ideas impressed the judges by displaying business acumen and a genuine passion for our island home."
