Mendelsohn & Chermayeff, De La War Pavilion, Bexhill, 1935

• The pavilion’s structure was based on a welded steel frame designed by engineer Felix Samuely. Steel frames were an idea from Germany.
• Other structural features included lattice steel beams – allowing a traditional-looking roof to be used for the concert hall.
• Engineers used natural light in the pavilion wherever possible - surfaces were designed to let in the maximum light or reflect it.
• The windows were tall, walls were white, and the floors were polished and reflective.
• The project team also gave the building’s sweeping circular staircase a cylindrical glass enclosure to let in natural light.
• As well as being mostly built from concrete, it was the first public building in Britain to use a welded steel frame.
• The De La Warr Pavilion is a grade I listed building, located on the seafront at Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex, on the south coast of England.
• The Art Deco and International Style building was designed by the architects Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff and constructed in 1935. Although sometimes claimed to be the first major Modernist public building in Britain, it was in fact preceded by some months by the Dutch-influenced Hornsey Town Hall.
• The new seafront building was the result of an architectural competition initiated by Herbrand Sackville, 9th Earl De La Warr, after whom the building was named.
• Professor Charles Reilly wrote in the Architects' Journal;


  "The straight-forward spaciousness of the interiors and the great spiral stairs gracefully mounting in their glass cylinders are things we have all dreamed about but none of us have done on their scale or with their sureness of touch."
• George Bernard Shaw commented;

  "Delighted to hear that Bexhill has emerged from barbarism at last."
• The Pavilion


  • Made up of two main sections either side of a central entrance
  • Has a north and south stairwell
• West-wing


  • Three-storey
  • Houses a large auditorium space
  • Has large glass windows at ground-floor level
• East-wing


  • Two storey
  • Fully glazed on its south elevation
  • Has cantilevered balconies linking to the south staircase
• South staircase


  • Projects out from the south elevation
  • Provides the Pavilion with its most recognisable feature
• North elevation


  • Has a cantilevered stairwell above the main entrance
  • Has a first-floor level canopy extending the length of the western section
• Large illuminated, spaced letters spell out the words 'DE LA WARR PAVILION' atop the canopy