A Steel Window Association member is leading the restoration of the Grade I-listed De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea. Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) is the principal contractor for the project, coordinating local construction firms and its own supply chain to restore the building’s iconic steel windows, specifically the Medium Universal steel windows that define its modernist aesthetic.
The modernist seafront structure, designed by Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff, was completed in 1935. Despite a 2005 refurbishment, the aggressive marine environment has caused severe corrosion to the steel framing, requiring major repairs to concrete, render, leadwork, and terrazzo floors. The prolonged exposure to sea spray, compounded by minimum maintenance, has necessitated extensive repairs and even remaking of certain elements.
Restoring Iconic Windows
The restoration involves extensive work on the pavilion’s distinctive windows. The North and South staircases were fully deglazed early on, with all the glass sent for recycling and the windows themselves demounted from their sub-frames and sent for shot-blasting offsite. The South Staircase features a total of 42 curved on plan window panels, plus half a dozen single door-sets all comprising curved glass within radiused frame sections.
The North Staircase contains 30 windows measuring 2m x 1.5m, mostly comprising nine panes, all installed within the pavilion’s skeletal structure, which is in very poor condition. This will need extensive welding work and wholesale replacement of the vertical mullions, as well as partial replacement of the T-sections. Some of the mullions are also being repaired within ASWS workshops. Having received attention in 2005, the window frames have only needed minor repairs.
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A £52 Million Masterplan
The £52 million project, led by Rother District Council, is overseen by architectural practice Haworth Tomkins. The scheme, titled “An Icon for Everyone”, involves façade engineer EOC (Eckersley O’Callaghan) and structural engineering consultant Price and Myers. Work is divided into six phases, with the current phase due to complete early next year.
To combat coastal corrosion, the project uses an ISO 12944 CX grade system, specifically designed for harsh environments. The team is also analyzing the most suitable RAL color for the restoration. Replacement glazing will use 4mm float glass on the North Staircase or 8.8mm laminated glass, with refurbished or replaced steel beading and silicon top caps to ensure weather-tightness, all in line with planning and heritage requirements.
The restoration is part of a long-term vision to reimagine the pavilion for the next century, supported by a £7.6 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Stewart Drew, Chief Executive and Director of the De La Warr Pavilion, emphasizes this commitment to preserving the building’s legacy, stating the project is part of a long-term vision “to reimagine this special place for the next century.”