A Cafe at Canvey IslandThe Architect and Building News 1934The following pictures, plans and article were published in 'The Architect and Building News' on the 16th February 1934. I do not think any of this has been seen before. It gives lots of information about the design and structure which I have found very interesting.
A Cafe at Canvey Island
This attractive concrete structure consists of a main circular building housing the cafe, kitchen and lavatories, with two wings forming shelters, the whole being situated along the river bank at Labworth Park. Owing to the marshy nature and low bearing capacity of the soil it was necessary to carry the whole structure on piles. No. 19 precast reinforced concrete piles were used for this purpose, eight being driven under the circular portion and eleven under the wings forming the shelter.
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Canvey Island Essex |
A Café at Canvey Island |
Front elevation facing the river. White cement finish. The kiosks and benches were not included in the original design. |
Ground and first floor plans: showing the circular counter with stools in the café on the first floor. Note method of draining water from flat roof by means of supporting piers. |
The circular roof is cantilevered from a circular beam supported from the hollow columns and laid with a slight fall towards the beam over which is formed a shallow gutter which leads the rainwater to the hollow columns. The lower part of the roof circular beam projects horizontally in section on each side to form hidden electric light channels, all lighting in the cafe thus being reflected from the ceiling.
A feature of the design is the circular window which completely encloses the cafe, giving an uninterrupted view over the river and over Labworth Park. Access is provided to roofs of the shelters by two doors leading from the cafe for the use of customers who prefer the open air. . |
The total length of the structure is 100 ft. With the exception of cast-iron columns at the porchway and those supporting the roofs of the shelters, the whole of the structure was designed in reinforced concrete
The two kiosks and the seating benches are additions which were not included in the original design. Christiani & Neilsen, Ltd., were responsible for the planning and reinforced concrete design and calculations, and D. G. Somerville & Co., Ltd., were the general contractors. café
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The side view of the café. The circular window completely encloses the café. |
Cross section showing use of precast piles on the unusual sloping site. |
This picture seems to be the same as the one in the article right down to the lady sitting on |
Taken in the early part of the 21st Century now with a new seawall which was built in the 80s
The pictures below are a few from different eras |