Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
2 8
British Piers
Piers are long wood or metal fingers sticking out into the sea; they house various forms of entertainment. They first began to be built in the early nineteenth century, studding the shores of Britain and Wales. This boom followed the blossoming popularity of seaside family vacations. The piers development peaked towards the end of the nineteenth century, at the height of Queen Victorias reign; then, there were seventy, while around twenty still function. By exploiting the trestle bridge technology and the great experience of Paxtons Crystal Palace, these structures jut courageously up to a mile out in the open water, resting on slender pilings. The form of the pilings is frequently due merely to engineering concerns, whereas the buildings are clearly eclectic; their architecture was inspired by fanciful dreams or chinoiserie and extravagant fairy tales. Much of the modernity of the piers derives from this total detachment between the bearing structure and what it carries (between structure and superstructure). Once the structural engineering facet had been defined, it was possible to approach the formal side in perfect freedom. Each pier is a world in itself, a constellation of buildings and places magically balanced over the ocean. These floating islands succeed in bringing the mainland out to sea: you can stroll and be on the water without getting wet. Water becomes a landscape, something immaterial: it can be seen but not touched. The piers were the destinations and goals of the railways. Thanks to these links, the seashore structures immediately had a powerful regional impact. Piers are aquatic architecture, lived-in bridges, architectural structures and decorated buildings; in their gay world they incarnate all these themes in a carefree fashion. Alberto Alessi
The illustrations utilized here are taken from Richard Fischers book of photographs British Piers, with a foreword by John Walton (Thames and Hudson, London, 1987). Figures 1a, 3a, 9: East Sussex County Library; 2a: Blackpool District Libraries; 4a: Avon County Council, Woodspring Central Library. Bibliography: C. Musgrave, Life in Brighton, 1970; K. Lindley, Seaside Architecture, 1973; E. W. Gilbert, Brighton, Old Oceans Bauble, 1976; J. A. R. Pimlot, The Englishmans Holiday: A Social History, 1976; S. H. Anderson, Seaside Piers, Batsford, London, 1977; J. Walvin, Beside the Seaside, 1978; J. K. Walton, The English Seaside Resort: A Social History, Leicester, 1983; Richard Fischer, British Piers, forward by John Walton, Thames and Hudson, London, 1987; E. Swinglehurst, Britain, Then and Now, Pyramid, 1988; J. S. Curl, Victorian Architecture, David & Charles, London, 1990.
11 5 4 12
3 10
9 13
1823
1865
BRIGHTON
BRIGHTON
1863
1867
BLACKPOOL
WESTON-SUPER-MARE
1868
1876
Pier di Clevedon
Ward-Grover Lunghezza 842 piedi. Viene edificato in ghisa, compresa la testa aggiunta nel 1891. La struttura completata da colonne accoppiate in ferro battuto. Nel 1970 due delle esili campate collassano in occasione di alcuni lavori di collaudo. Attualmente in via di restauro, grazie al forte impegno sociale della cittadinanza. Molto di ci che accade ai piers dipende dalla sensibilit culturale della citt che li ospita.
Pier di Llandudno
Brunlees & McKerrow Con i sui 2295 piedi di lunghezza il pier pi esteso. Ha due sezioni di cui la principale sorretta da un intreccio di travi in metallo battuto su colonne in ghisa, con chioschi ottagonali. La piattaforma terminale accoglie un padiglione con numerose ali e verande.
Llandudno Pier
Brunlees & McKerrow This is the longest pier: 2295 feet. Divided in two sections, the main one is carried by a web of wrought-iron beams on cast-iron columns, with octagonal kiosks. The final platform has a pavilion with numerous wings and verandahs.
Clevedon Pier
Ward-Grover It is 842 feet long. The structure was built in cast-iron, including the end added in 1891. It also comprises paired wrought-iron columns. In 1970 two of the slim bays collapsed during testing. At present, it is being restored, thanks to the strong backing of the townspeople. The fate of the piers depends a lot on the cultural awareness of the city where they stand.
CLEVEDON
LLANDUDNO
1872
1885
Pier di Eastbourne
E. Birch La lunghezza attuale di 1000 piedi il risultato di forti ampliamenti subiti nel corso del 900. Numerose colonne in ghisa supportano una struttura in ferro e legno; la piattaforma finale, danneggiata da una tempesta stata ricostruita pi alta ed collegata con una rampa al lungo pontile. Nel 1888 e 1899 si costruiscono i teatri, mentre due saloni per giochi sono realizzati nel 1901. Tutti gli edifici e anche la struttura portante presentano una grande rifinitura dei dettagli, caratteristica tipica dei piers progettati da Birch.
EASTBOURNE
ST. ANNES-ON-SEA
ST. LEONARDS-ON-SEA
1896
1904
10
12
BRIGHTON
WESTON-SUPER-MARE
1898
1917
11
13
Pier di Hastings
E. Birch Raggiunge una lunghezza 910 piedi, mentre la sua struttura varia in larghezza da 45 a 190 piedi. Numerose colonne in ghisa poggiano su un letto di piloni a vite e sostengono un piano in legno sul quale si stendono passeggiate coperte, due teatri e numerosi portici con divertimenti che includono anche uno zoo.
Hastings Pier
E. Birch It extends 910 feet into the sea, whereas its structure varies in width from 45 to 190 feet. A multitude of cast-iron columns rest on a bed of screwpiles; they carry a wood deck with covered boardwalks, two theaters and many entertainment arcades, including a zoo.
THE MUMBLES
HASTINGS