Art Deco by the Sea

Art Deco by the Sea is a major new book and exhibition examining British coastal culture between the First and Second World Wars. Beautifully illustrated, the book will trace how the British seaside changed during a new age of mass tourism. It will examine how coastal resorts developed and how the networks of transport that serviced them - by road, rail and sea - were modernised. The book will celebrate iconic examples of Art Deco architecture, from hotels and apartment blocks to piers, cinemas and sea fronts and will show how Art Deco became the key style for pleasure and entertainment. It will also feature seaside companies including Poole Pottery, E.K. Cole Ltd and Crysede known for their striking modern designs. The book will also explore how the seaside changed during the 1920s and 30s with the advent of the heathy body culture, when sunbathing, swimming and a host of other outdoor activities became fashionable. The development of amenities such as lidos and golf courses changed the look of seaside resorts while holiday camps such as Butlin's provided new types of holiday experience. The book will feature Deco fashions and the more ephemeral and popular culture of the seaside from theatre performances, circuses, fairgrounds, casinos and fun fairs.