Southend Pier Cultural Centre, Southend, United Kingdom. Architect: White Architects, 2012. View of the main front elevation sho


From the architect: The aim was to have a modern attraction with an environmental profile, which can both attract visitors and create a sense of pride among the town's inhabitants. The competition attracted entries from as many as 74 practices, of which five went further to the final session at which we were named winner with our proposal for an events thoroughfare which starts out as an extension to the town's high street and ends in a spectacular open-air theatre, restaurant and cultural centre out at sea. Following the competition win we teamed up with UK practice Sprunt to oversee the development of the design. In our winning entry: Sculpted by Wind and Wave, we proposed a meeting place for tourists and residents with restaurant, cafe, cultural centre with studios, exhibitions, film shows, live performances and events. Top of the bill is an open-air theatre accommodating an audience of 500 sitting in the lee of the wind under an open sky with the sea all around and coastline.


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Photo credit: © Luke Hayes-VIEW / Alamy / Afripics
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