Public Spaces
The Windbreak Wall: How a Low Edge Changes a Coastal Courtyard
A windbreak wall in a coastal courtyard can temper gusts without closing the view. Learn what to observe across a day…
The reading room
Reading list
Explore the buildings, materials, public spaces and small design choices that shape places beside the sea.
Materials
Weathered Timber or Painted Metal for a Shore-Side Bench?
Compare weathered timber and painted metal for a shore-side bench, with clear upkeep considerations to help match its…
Coastal History
From Bathing Machine to Open Promenade: The Changing Seaside Edge
See how the seaside edge shifted from screened bathing access to a shared promenade, and how that change reshaped the…
Details
The Nautical Motif Overload: When Coastal Details Compete
Nautical motif overload can make a coastal place feel generic. Learn how to judge anchors, rope and other maritime…
Buildings
A First Visit to a Coastal Museum: Read One Building from Outside In
A first visit to a coastal museum becomes easier to read when you follow its outline, materials, entrance and setting…
Our point of view
Design begins with paying attention
Coastal places are made from more than a view. Their forms, surfaces and public spaces reflect the meeting of land, sea and everyday use.