Pagham, situated on England's south coast, stands as an example of frontline communities facing the imminent threat of rising sea levels. The village encapsulates both local and national identities through its unique community spirit and idiosyncrasy that embodies the UK’s penchant for eccentricity. This project responds to the urgent need to redefine and prioritise the preservation of such vulnerable places, proposing a radical approach to their protection.

The Frontline is an intervention striving to uphold the site’s unique character and community atmosphere in a compromised scenario. A new townscape is formed through nurturing the existing sense of agency among residents; they become integral contributors to the village’s survival, as homes become key infrastructural tools within the redefined landscape. A protective wall surrounds the townscape, merging familiar with unfamiliar across various scales and blurring the boundary between beach and home. The Frontline embraces the inherent strangeness of Pagham while upholding its long-standing resilience in the face of an urgent need for protection.