The book by Fred Gray covers many aspects of the seaside from an architectural perspective, however little is mentioned about seaside shelters specifically, they are mentioned as part of the architectural landscape of the seafront.
Much of the architecture at the seaside, such as the promenades, parks, gardens and shelters themselves were created by the state or private companies in order to ‘lure’ people to the area and to keep them there. The architecture was considered a communal public attraction. Gray describes this architecture as a ‘critical part of the process’ in terms of attracting and enticing visitors to the resort and in some cases, to individual areas within the resort. He highlights the ‘lack of a coherent architectural symbolism’ (as did Scott in his photographic journey of shelters) as being a crucial characteristic of the seaside shelter, which is something I need to consider with a brief for a proposed design. He also described these characteristics as ‘eclecticism’, emphasis on showy facades and a variety of architectural visions, which on reflection is perhaps why I love them so much! This kind of architecture became what he describes as a ‘crucial component in the resort environment’ and its identification (p45).
Grey also discusses a quest for a ‘style’ which although in the most part remained as the eclecticism he describes above; an orientalism developed in many seaside towns and began with Brighton’s West Pier. This style did find itself in a number of seaside architecture including bandstands, pavilions and seaside shelters (p95).
Gray also discusses the seaside as a landscape and that the seaside structure is often defined by these open spaces. These spaces provided ways of experiencing nature, society, entertainment and pleasure and in most cases fronted the sea. Sea air, breezes and views were to be ‘consumed from the shore in comfort and safety’ and a way for the seafront to be experienced as an ‘invented and exotic landscape’.
Although I’m yet to find much information on the advent of the seaside shelter, this need for comfort and safety on the seafront in order to experience these landscapes and views, is the closest I’ve come to the need for shelters (p115).
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