Architecture, Culture, and Community
Being Modern: Bexhill is a day-long event educating participants and celebrating the story of the Grade 1 listed De La Warr Pavilion, from its bold modernist beginnings through to its place as part of the community. It also examines its role in the future of Bexhill. Join architects, historians, designers, and some members of the team behind the Pavilion’s building project for workshops, lectures, and conversations exploring the past, present, and future of our architectural icon. Over this day of talks you can hear from leading architects and historians reflecting on modernist ideals and how these continue to shape and inspire their work and our communities today.
The De La Warr Pavilion stands as one of Britain’s most significant modernist landmarks, conceived in 1935 as a democratic space for culture, leisure and community. This programme of talks, Modernism Now: Culture and Community, explore how the ideals of modernism can be reimagined for the twenty-first century. Born from a belief that architecture, art and design could create a more open, equitable and optimistic society, modernism was never just about buildings; it was about improving everyday life.
As the Pavilion embarks on its next chapter, this programme of talks asks what modernism means today. How can this building, once celebrated as a monument to progress, become a catalyst for present-day connection, creativity and belonging? Through conversations with architects, artists, designers and community leaders, the talksexamine how the enduring values of this artistic movement can help shape more inclusive, resilient and vibrant places for the future. By embodying both the vision of its founders and the values of the town around it, the De La Warr Pavilion offers a model for how twentieth-century modernism can evolve to inspire openness, creativity, and civic imagination.
THE SCHEDULE
11.00am: Introduction: The People’s Palace Ideal. Stewart Drew, director and CEO of the De La Warr Pavilion Charitable Trust, will introduce the history and philosophy of 1930s Britain, which led to the Pavilion’s conception, and how the ethos of a democratic space for leisure and culture shaped the Pavilion’s design.
11.20: Modernism on Sea. Kathryn Ferry, seaside historian and author, discusses architects, culture and social change, and the influence and legacy of 20th-century civic architecture designed for community enrichment. She will also be signing copies of her book, Twentieth Century Seaside Architecture.
12.00pm: How Ideas Spread: international modernism through personal relationships. A screening of a 10-minute pre-recorded talk from Ray Neutra, based around a photo featuring his father, Richard Neutra with Frank Lloyd Wright and DLWP architect Erich Mendelsohn.
12.10pm: Saving the De La Warr Pavilion. Architect Patrick Theis tells the story of how a group of people, led by Jill Theis, recognised the importance of the building and fought for a Grade 1 listing and eventual renovation in the early 2000’s.
12.35pm: Questions and discussions
1.00pm: Lunch break. Food is not included in the ticket price, but you can enjoy lunch in the DWP Café-Bar. Or you could pre-order a lunch box to take on the beach by adding this to your ticket request.
2.30pm: Tracing the threads of modernism from the De La Warr Pavilion to today. Ab Rogers, founder of Ab Rogers Design, discusses the influence of Modernism and international style on architecture and how we live our lives today. The talk will consider the impact and influence of modernism across various important contemporary architecture projects. Ab will be signing copies of his book, Richard Rogers Talking Buildings at 4.30pm in the main foyer.
3.15pm: The De La Warr Pavilion – from modernism to a resilient future. A presentation delivered by Hannah Constantine from Haworth Tompkins, and James Stevenson from Price and Myers, on the upcoming renovation of the De La Warr Pavilion. They will address the challenge of balancing preservation with renewal, protecting the spirit of the Pavilion while adapting the function of the building for future generations, and supporting the organisation to thrive as a living cultural hub.
Saturday 12 September, 11.00am-4.30pm. £25, £10 students. Details and tickets: dlwp.com/event/being-modern-bexhill-talks-programme/. Additional events include model-making workshops and an architecture tour (sold out).
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