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So
what is the Moderne style?
It's
easy to confuse Art Moderne with Art Deco, but they are two distinctly
different styles.
While both have simple forms and geometric-based ornamentation,
the moderne style will appear sleek and less decorated, while the
slightly earlier deco style can be quite ornamented.
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| Sea
front shelters in Worthing |
Moderne
buildings tend to be low and horizontal, with a flat roof. Usually
white in colour they have little or no ornamentation.
The sleek, smooth curved Moderne style (1918 to 1950) originated
from the influence of the Bauhaus movement,
which in turn orignated from the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau
periods (1860 to 1910).
At this time architecture was moving away from the heavily ornate
and over-the-top influence of Victorian design.
Bauhaus
architects used the principles of classical architecture in their
purest form, designing simple, useful, plainly decorated structures.
Building shapes were based on curves, triangles, and cones. Moderne
art, architecture, and
fashion became popular just as Art Deco was losing appeal.
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| Residential
Moderne style in Sea Lane, Goring |
Many
products produced during the 1930s, from architecture to jewelry
to kitchen appliances, expressed the new Moderne ideals.
Where
can I see examples?
Well, Worthing is awash with Moderne.
Click here to see a list of some
of the best examples in the town.
But
there are loads of other places throughout the region where you
can see fine examples of the style. Click here
for some of them.
WORTHING'S
MODERNE PAST*
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| Worthing
Pier echoes the Moderne style |
Worthing
Pier: rebuilt after a fire in 1933
Clarence Court: 1930's block of apartments located on the seafront
Onslow Court: 1930's block of apartments located on the seafront
Manor Ground Pavilion, Broadwater Road: Council owned cricket
pavilion
Eirene Road: single storey beach chalet house- simplicity
of design
Goring Road shopping parade: combined shopping, housing complex
with typical architectural features of this period
Hastings Court & Romney court: from a group located just
off the seafront
Marine Gardens: public park
Hillside Avenue: one off modernist house in residential area
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| Nutley
Close, a residential example of Moderne |
Amberley
& Arundel Court: lo rise block of apartments
Public toilets and shelters: located on Worthing Seafront
Nutley Close: residential housing
Robson Road: residential housing
Sea Lane: residential housing
Shaftsbury Ave: residential housing
Strand Parade: mixed development of housing and retail units
from the 1940's
Connaught Theatre: 1935, town centre location
Chapmans Brewery building, Warwick Road: currently being
converted into apartments
Pavilion, Marine Gardens: recently destroyed by vandals
Seafront Shelters: moderne design
*All Worthing images and descriptions
with kind permission from Saville Jones Architects, Worthing.
OTHER
EXAMPLES OF LOCAL MODERNE
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| Shoreham
Aiport. Photo courtesy of Keith Mason |
Saltdean
Lido, Brighton: along with the Ocean Hotel in Saltdean, this
is a fine example of moderne seaside architecture
Shoreham Airport, Shoreham by Sea: the UK's oldest established
airport
Embassy Court, Brighton: designed by Wells Coates, well known
at the time for his revoloutionary bakelite radio cabinets for Ekco
Radio
Ocean
Hotel, Saltdean, Brighton: fine example of moderne seaside architecture
If
you have photos of any of these buildings,
e-mail us the pictures and we'll add them here.
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