Taking its name from its location in the heart of Folkestone, F51 is a striking concrete structure that looks set to become a major landmark and destination for the southeast town.

The site sits where Tontine Street and Dover Road meet, opposite a water tower-like sculpture created by locals Diane Dever and Jonathan Wright to denote one of the hidden waterways of the Pent Stream beneath.

The designers of F51 in Folkestone, Kent, were initially asked to build a car park, hence its towering frame. But when the local skate park had to relocate, the building seemed like a cool (if slightly unusual) fit. Now, it houses all the bowls, pipes, ramps and wallrides a skater could desire. There’s also a 15-metre-high climbing wall, comprising more than 30 graded routes for both beginners and pros.

The multi-storey F51 building features three indoor skate parks, as well as an Olympic-sized boxing ring, 15m-tall climbing wall and cafe.

Skaters are the ones who are seriously spoiled for choice, though. The ‘flow park’ at the top of the building is a wonderland of undulating mounds. Head down a level and you’ll find a recreation of the toughest bits of urban environments: steps, rails, ledges and more. The ground floor is all swooping bowls and imposing pillars, meant to mimic the empty Californian swimming pools that incubated the first skating boom.

According to timeout