East Beach Cafe
Stunning new building on the Littlehampton seafront
(Photos/words © urban75, June 2007)
Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, this landmark building sits right on the beach in Littlehampton, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
Inside, there's room for 55 diners with 90 seats on the decking outside, with a former Ritz chef, David Whiteside, billed as being on hand to serve up fresh seafood.
The unusual design took shape after Jane Wood and her husband, Peter Murray, collaborated with architect Heatherwick after a chance meeting.
The building - which has been described as possessing a structure more akin to a racing car than a conventional building - was designed via 3D computer modelling techniques with the assistance of civil engineers Adams Kara Taylor.
We took a look around just a few days before its opening.
![Photos of Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, UK](images/east-beach-cafe-01.jpg) Looking east along the cafe.
![Photos of Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, UK](images/east-beach-cafe-02.jpg)
The unusual roof complete with metal waves.
![Photos of Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, UK](images/east-beach-cafe-03.jpg) Despite its radical architecture, there wasn't a single objection to the planning application which suggests that Littlehampton residents understood the value that such a striking building might bring to the town.
![top](../../images/topbx.gif)
![Photos of Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, UK](images/east-beach-cafe-04.jpg) Passers-by sneak a peek inside the new cafe.
![Photos of Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, UK](images/east-beach-cafe-05.jpg) The windowless town-facing side of the cafe.
![East Anglian Game and Country Fair, Photos of Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, UK](images/east-beach-cafe-07.jpg) Looking a bit like an alligator, this view was taken looking towards the beach.
![Photos of Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, UK](images/east-beach-cafe-08.jpg) Checking out the material.
![Photos of Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, UK](images/east-beach-cafe-09.jpg) Detail of the curved metal structure.
![Photos of Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, UK](images/east-beach-cafe-10.jpg) Admiring the lines.
![Photos of Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, UK](images/east-beach-cafe-11.jpg) A final view of the structure.
« Littlehampton photos home Huts and pedalos»
|
|