This is the futuristIc vision offered by a renowned industrial designer for a new town centre cinema for Maldon.

David Harman Powell, a lecturer at the Royal College of Art, responded to an invitation by town centre menager Marion Wells to design a cinema for the town.

While he feels his design would not necessarily fit in with the traditional feel of Maldon town centre, he thinks his building could be placed in the former Sadd's Wharf area.

Mr Harman Powell, 69, a former winner of the Duke of Edinburgh award for elegant design who lives in London Road, Maldon, said: "It's a kind of multi-media, activity, exhibition centre with a cinema, a hi-tech design with all sorts happening."

It may look like science fiction, but Mr Harman Powell took his inspiration from local history.

He said: "My setting was the Blackwater at Maldon particularly, the barges and the sails, so its very much a nautical influence in the design.

"Having sailed a bit up the Blackwater I particularly like the relatively unchanged feel as you come down from Bradwell - with the early morning mist you really could be a Viking."

Primary school children from Maldon Court School have also responded to Dr Wells' invitation, as part of National Architecture Week, with 20 children sending in designs currently on display in Maldon Library.

Mr Harman Powell has agreed to speak to the children in the new year and will be judging the entries.

Modern Maldon - a vision of the future?

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.