Coastal Moderne

The white rendered forms of the International Modernist architecture movement and its more flamboyant Streamline Moderne offshoot are synonymous with the coast. Whether it’s the unbroken natural light, the sense of escapism and ‘holiday’, or the more temperate climates, this style of architecture thrived by the seaside more than further inland. Indeed, the tourism advertising at the time highlighted many public lidos, concert halls, piers and hotels all built in this style, tying in nicely with the fashionable health benefits of sunlight and the glamour of the ‘bathy beauties.

However, like all British coastal destinations, the rise of the international package holiday in the 1950s & 60s saw the slow demise of many of these towns. Couple this falling revenue with the, at times harsh, environment of winter storms lashing the buildings with salt-laden winds, and it was inevitable that the upkeep of these once pristine white buildings would prove challenging. The cutting-edge steel frame structures and flat roofs did not welcome neglect and incumbent weather, and many rapidly took on a shabby appearance. Vast numbers of buildings were lost over the years – open-air Lidos, in particular, being a victim of a substantial post-war cull.

All was not lost though, and many inter-war structures that were perhaps considered dowdy and past their sell-by date 25 years ago are finally receiving the attention and restoration funds they deserve. Possibly paving the way for a more widespread revival of coastal modernism.

These photos represent part of an ongoing project documenting inter-war and early post-war modernist structures of all types found directly along Britain’s promenades, beaches and coastal roads.