1935 – De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex

This famous seafront building was the result of an architectural competition initiated by Herbrand Sackville, 9th Earl De La Warr, after whom the building was named. The competition was announced in the Architects’ Journal in February 1934, with a programme that specified an entertainment hall to seat at least 1,500 people; a 200-seat restaurant; a reading room; and a lounge. Initially, the budget for the project was limited to £50,000, although this was later raised to £80,000. Run by the Royal Institute of British Architects, the competition attracted over 230 entrants. Out of the entrants was selected this design by Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff, pioneers of Modernism, who won the contract and £150 first prize. The design was described at the time “indicated a thorough grasp of the nature of the problem, is direct and simple in planning, and shows a masterly handling of the architectural treatment.”

Construction of began in January 1935, and the building was opened on 12 December of the same year by the Duke and Duchess of York. Grade I listed.