Alexandria University

Faculty of Fine Arts

Architecture Department

2021 -2022 Research Methods Course

Seaside Constructions,
Human & Nature

Presented by:
Group no. 28
1- Doha Hassan 112
2- Sohila Dief 101 Supervisor
3- Sarah Ellakany 90 Dr. Mai Karram
Abstract
This research is talking about the seaside constructions and it
development over the time . While the research mainly emphasize that
there is a relation between the seaside constructions, the human, and
the nature and how the seaside construction affect on human , the
nature affect of the constructions ,and how the human is help the
constructions to survive in this nature

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Contents
INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………… 3

1- The Development of seaside constructions 4

1-1 the Brighton Pavilion……………………………………………… 4
1-2 Casino in Blackpool ………………………………………………. 4
1-3 The New Casino…………………………………………………… 5
1-4 Casino AL Shatby…………………………………………………. 5
2 Impact of seaside constructions on human 6
2-1 Hearing Sea waves……………………………………………….. 6
2-2 Seeing the Sea……………………………………………………..7
2-3 Smelling Sea Mist…………………………………………………7
3 Impact of nature of seaside constructions 7
3-1 Climate Change …………………………..………………………..7
3-2 Water, Moisture, and Salts………………...……………………….. 8
3-3 Biodeterioration……………………………………………………..9
4- Aspects in building sea side construction 9
4-1 Location and planning ………………………………….……….. 9
4-2 Foundation………………………………………………….…….10
4-3 Ventilation………………………………………………………..11
4-4 Building Materials……………………………………………….. 11
4-4-1 Flood-Resistant Materials……………………………………12
4-4-2Wind-Resistant Materials ……………………………………12
4-4-3 Corrosion and Decay Resistance ……………………………12
4-4-4 Moisture Resistance ………………………………………..13

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CONCLUSION …………………………………………………… 14

REFERENCES …………………………………………………… 15

Introduction
The invention of the seaside as a site of leisure and pleasure almost three
centuries ago went hand-in-hand with the development of a novel urban form –
the seaside resort – and the emergence of a new pleasure architecture beside the
sea. Architecture, in varied innovative forms, became an essential ingredient
fashioning the seaside. As an artificial confection designed to entice people
seeking leisure and pleasure – and usually intended to generate income and a
profit – architecture became the glue of individual resorts and a defining
characteristic distinguishing one seaside place from another.
The most influential seaside architecture makes the most of being ‘on the
front’ and beside the seaside. Its form and function, and how it is used, helps
expose the fascinating relationships between society and nature found in places
literally on the edge. Seaside resorts are multi-layered places, redolent with
meaning for the present and memory of the past. Whether the most fashionable
and exotic sunny southern playground of the rich or a run-down and forgotten
colder northern coastal pleasure town, resort architecture has become bound up
with the seaside’s intense sense of place and being.
The architecture of the seaside, too, has been caught up in the drift of holiday-
makers swept along in the surging tides of social, economic and technological
change and the ebb and flow of fashion, taste and evolving personal and social
relationships. Seaside architecture has helped create, structure and define
holidays by the sea and the consumption and very meaning of the seaside.

1-The Development of seaside constructions

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1-1 the Brighton Pavilion (fig 1)
Nash's design was oriental in flavour, with its
famous "onion" domes. The interior was in Chinese
style. The Pavilion was quite unlike any building of
its era. Its influence on seaside architecture from
that date onwards was profound. The style of the
Pavilion found its way onto the Victorian and
Edwardian pier in the Baroque flourishes in
wrought iron, in the oriental onion domes of the
kiosks, bandstands and pier pavilions.
At the beginning of the 'twenties, seaside
architecture followed the traditions of the Victorian
age. A proposal for improvement to aging baths at
Hastings, even as late as 1926 still copied the exotic
style of the Brighton Pavilion and the new pier
pavilion and bandstand at Worthing, built in 1925-6 Figure 1: the Brighton Pavilion
used the traditional seaside style. (Seaside history) Source: www.seasidehistory.co.uk
1-2 Casino in Blackpool (fig 2)
The original Casino at Blackpool's Pleasure
Beach was built in 1913 and was replaced only
twenty-six years later with a new design by
architect Joseph Emberton. The original was
built essentially just before our period began
as there was very little seaside building
during the First World War, its replacement
is right at the end of our period. "Casino" is
something of a misnomer, as gambling was
not permitted and both buildings were really
restaurants and cafés. The original building Figure 2: Casino in Blackpool
used all the styling tricks of the Victorian and Source: www.seasidehistory.co.uk
Edwardian seaside architect. It has been
compared by different authors to an Indian palace and to a wedding cake. It is
a flamboyant, distinctly over the top, architectural indulgence in fantasy. A
building designed for fun, rather than serious purpose. (Seaside history)

1-3 The New Casino fig(3)

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 The new Casino is quite the opposite in
style. It has virtually no applied decoration.
A simple, circular form is used for the main
building with a wide expanse of glass. The
building is topped with a circular tower.
White is the predominant colour. It is the
last word in 1930's chic. In spite of its much
more functional appearance, the new
Casino is just as much fun as its more fancy
ancestor. This sense of fun is expressed in
the tower with its concrete "corkscrew"
echoing the corkscrew staircase inside the
building and providing the entrance to the
Pleasure Beach. Modern architecture and
building techniques have been used to
Figure 3: The New Casino
create a building that is new and exciting. (Seaside Source: (web : https://fontanarchitecture.com/)
history)

1-4 Casino AL Shatby

The architecture of what became
known as the "modern
movement", was based on the
principle that "form follows
function", that the outward
appearance of the building should
be determined solely by the
intended use of its interior. The
majority of true modern
buildings in the 'twenties and
'thirties had similar outward
characteristics: flat roofs; the use
of white concrete; strong
geometrical shapes, particularly
the cube; the use of cantilevered
balconies; large expanses of glass Figure 4: : Casino AL Shatby
and above all, an almost complete absence Author: Researcher,30/12/2021
of any ornamentation.
2-Impact of seaside constructions on human
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Nothing says “summer” quite like a trip to the beach. And there’s good news if
you’re planning to hit the sand and surf this holiday season. Turns out, spending
time at the sea is not only good for your tan; it also has significant psychological
benefits for your mental health .
In one study (Mathew P.White, September 2013), analysis of census data collected
in England revealed a positive association between health and wellbeing and
living at the coast. Similarly, another study (Chenchen Peng*, 2016) conducted
by researchers at the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences in Japan found that,
compared with those who live inland, seaside dwellers – and particularly elderly
coastal residents – show higher positive psychological effects thanks to their
proximity to the ocean. “Human psychology and behaviors are dependent, not
only on current social stimulus, but also on characteristics of the environment,”
say the study’s authors. “We should consider the value of leisurely visits to the
seaside to promote public health and psychological wellbeing” .Almost 85% of
people prefer setting in cafes beside the sea than downtown cafes, because they
feel the calmness and freedom while only 15% prefer downtown cafes
(Source :researcher)
2-1 Hearing Sea waves
According to a study (Britta K. Hölzel, 2012 Jan 30.) conducted by researchers
at Harvard and the University of Massachusetts Medical Schools, together with
those from the Bender Institute of Neuroimaging in Germany, the brains of
those who mediate regularly actually change in significant ways. “The results
suggest that [meditation] is associated with changes in grey matter
concentration in brain regions involved in learning and memory processes,
emotion regulation, and perspective taking,” say the study’s authors. What’s
more, according to psychologists, listening to the waves activates the
parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for slowing us down and
allowing us to relax and feel more engaged. "These slow, whooshing noises are
the sounds of non-threats, which is why they work to calm people," says Orfeu
Buxton, an associate professor of biobehavioral health at Pennsylvania State
University. "It's like they're saying: "Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry."
(Hadhazy, 2016)

2-2 Seeing the Sea

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According to Richard Shuster, PsyD, clinical psychologist, he agrees that blue
has a profound calming effect on people. "Staring at the ocean actually changes
our brain waves' frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state," says
Shuster. Studies have shown that different colors often produce different
psychological, emotional, and physical effects . One of the studies said (Kurt,
2014) “Blue encourages intellectual activity, reason, and logical thought. It is the
color of the intellect. In the same evidence about raising blood pressure with red,
blue is deemed to lower the blood pressure. Certainly, it is a soothing, calming
color, encouraging reflection.”
2-3 Smelling Sea Mist
The smell of the ocean breeze also contributes to a soothed state, which may have
something to do with the negative ions in the air that we’re breathing in. These
oxygen atoms have an extra electron and occur in places like waterfalls and the
ocean. Studies even suggest that negative ion therapy could be used to treat
symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Generally speaking, negative ions
increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased
drowsiness, and more mental energy,
(Mann, 2002)\

3- Impact of nature of seaside constructions

3-1Climate change.
Seaside and waterfront buildings could face serious impacts from severe events
caused by climate change. Sea levels around the world are rising at an
increasingly rapid rate. The Union of Concerned Scientists claims that sea levels
are rising due global warming’s increased temperatures, which induce melting
glaciers and ice sheets, as well as the thermal expansion of ocean water (7 Union
of Concerned Scientists)
According to the UN-Habitat’s new State of the World’s Cities Report (Unhabitat
organization, 2008/2009)– it indicates that few coastal cities will be spared by
climate change. Seaside cities around the world are and will be exposed to
climate change risks. Cities with low-elevation coastal zones around the world
are 3351, of which 2145 cities (64%) are located in developing countries. More
than half of these cities are in Asia and classified as vulnerable cities, followed
by Latin America and the Caribbean (27%) and Africa (15%). In Europe and

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North America, cities with low elevation coastal zones are forming two-third and
one-fifth of all these cities, respectively. Sea levels rose by an estimate of 17 cm
during the twentieth century. Between 1990 and 2080, the global mean
projection for sea level rise is estimated to range from 22 to 34 cm. This threat
could be alarming especially for low-elevation coastal zone – the continuous area
along coastlines that is less than 10 m above sea level presents 2% of the world’s
land area (Unhabitat organization, 2008/2009)
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), climate change has
several impacts on seaside cities which include two main effects:
• The rise in sea level which leads to the flooding of coastal wetlands, increasing
the salinity of ground water and pushing salt water into fresh water bodies.
(United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2017) The IPCC predicted an
accelerated rise in sea level of 0.2–0.6 m or more by 2100. (IPPC, 2007)
• The change in the frequency and intensity of storms and precipitation which
severely affects areas with low-quality infrastructure as it may damage
properties, disrupts transportation systems, destroys habitats and creates a
threat to human health and safety. (United States Environmental Protection
Agency, 2017).
3-2Water, Moisture, and Salts
Water, in its various physical states, is the major agent of deterioration of
buildings (Antunes, 2008. )The presence of moisture in walls of buildings leads
to the structural weakness of the building, damage to finishes and coatings, and
provides a favourable environment for the proliferation of microorganisms.
This results in the reduction or loss of habitable conditions and, in more serious
cases, the loss of building structural stability.
Moisture from rainfall affects in particular the roof in all its elements, structure
and covering, but also the surrounding area of the outer spans.
Condensation is usually related to inadequate ventilation and/or poor thermal
insulation. The presence of surface condensation on walls and/or ceilings is an
important factor in the proliferation of fungus and other microorganisms.
High levels of humidity react with soluble salts to increase the hygroscopicity of
materials. During periods of elevated humidity, salts absorb water, dissolve,
then transport through porous materials. With evaporation of moisture the salts

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re-crystallize. Successive wet/dry, dissolution/crystallization cycles ultimately
cause building mortars to lose cohesion and disaggregate (Antunes, 2008. )
3-3Biodeterioration
Biodeterioration is damage caused by microorganisms, plants, insects, birds and
mammals, such as bats. Algae and lichen readily proliferate in stone materials
in the presence of moisture; they penetrate pores leading to separation and
detachment of mineral particles. Algae and lichen also deposit a metabolic by-
product that is corrosive. Birds and the root systems of plants are commonly
identified as being responsible for both physical and chemical damage to roofs
and masonry. The biodeterioration of wood is caused by xylophagous insects
and microorganisms (such as fungus). The development of fungus depends on
the presence of moisture and leads to various types of rot, commonly identified
by its different colors. The xylophagous insect smites and worms—consume the
lignin in wood, weakening or even destroying it completely.

4- Aspects in building sea side construction

4-1 Location and Planning
A conceptual controlled design shall be developed for coastal zone by a proper
permanent protection system including disaster warning system, land use
planning and Tsunami evacuation system incorporating several elements as
follows:
• A complete protection by bio-shield having mangroves and woodlands
• Proper land use planning (at least 1km away from the coast line)
• The safe floor level shall be set above the most of the rare tsunami events.

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• Building Form– Flat or low-
sloped porch roofs, overhangs,
and gable ends are subject to
increased uplift in high winds.
Buildings that are both tall and
narrow are subject to
overturning. In the design
process, choose moderate-sloped
hip roofs if possible.
• Lowest Floor Elevation– Elevate
above the DFE1the bottom of the
lowest horizontal structural
member supporting the lowest
floor. Add “freeboard” to reduce
damage and lower flood insurance
premiums. Fig(6)
• Connections– Key connections Figure 5: Design flooding Elevation
include roof sheathing, roof-to-wall, Source: (web : https://fontanarchitecture.com/)
wall-to-wall, and walls-to foundation

4-2 Foundation fig(6)

Foundations used for inland construction
are generally not suitable for coastal
construction. Some examples of foundation
systems that have a history of poor
performance in erosion prone areas are
slab-on ground, spread footings, and mat
(or raft) foundations .and because the most
hazardous coastal areas are subject to
erosion, scour, and extreme flood loads, the
only practical way to perform these two
functions is to elevate a building on a deeply
embedded and “open” (i.e., pile or column)
foundation.
Figure 6: foundation design
Source: (FEMA, December 2010)
1
DFE : Design Flooding Elevation

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Make sure the foundation is deep enough to resist the effects of scour and
erosion; strong enough to resist wave, current, flood, and debris forces; and
capable of transferring wind and seismic forces on upper stories to the ground.
•Free of Obstructions– Use an open foundation. Do not obstruct the area below
the elevated portion of the building. Avoid or minimize the use of breakaway
walls. (Sharma*, 18 January, 2017))

4-3 Ventilation
Natural ventilation has several benefits with regard to improving the
environmental quality of urban areas/buildings, and thus it is very crucial and
wise to consider it in the planning of urban areas and buildings ( (Al-Sallal,
(2016)) (Santamouris, (2005))). It can contribute to mitigate problems of indoor
air quality by lessening the concentration of indoor pollutants, improve thermal
comfort 2 conditions in indoor and outdoor spaces and decrease the energy
consumption of air-conditioned buildings
A study (Rismanian, 2016) in the hot and dry climate in the traditional city of
Sirjan, Iran, has investigated the effects on the airflow rate created by its free
movement to investigate the natural ventilation rate at seven different angles
and at 15° intervals. The main outcome of this study is that the best walkway
orientation that generates the maximum air ventilation in the walkway was
when it makes an angle of –50° or +40° relative to a northerly direction. This
higher airflow rates in hot and dry climates improve

4-4 Building Materials

Materials and construction methods in a coastal environment should be
resistant to flood and wind damage, wind-driven rain, corrosion, moisture,
and decay (due to sunlight, aging, insects, chemicals, temperature, or other
factors). n Ease of installation or the ability to properly install the material
should be a major consideration for the selection of materials. n All coastal
buildings will require maintenance and repairs (more so than inland
construction)

2
Thermal comfort: the condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment

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4-4-1 Flood-Resistant Materials
Flooding accounts for a large percentage of the damage caused by a coastal
storm, which is why building materials must be flood damage-resistant. The
NFIP defines a flood damage-resistant material as “any building material
capable of withstanding direct and prolonged contact (i.e., at least 72 hours)
with floodwaters without sustaining significant damage (i.e., requires more
than cosmetic repair).” The cost of cosmetic repair should be less than the cost
of replacing building materials.
Examples : Lumber, Concrete,
Masonry, Structural steel, Insulation. (FEMA, December 2010)
4-4-2 Wind-Resistant Materials
Constructions in many coastal areas are often exposed to winds in excess of
90 mph (3-second peak gust). Choose building materials (e.g., roof shingles,
siding, windows, doors, fasteners, and framing members) that are designed
for use in high-wind areas.
Examples
Roof coverings, Double- hemmed vinyl siding, Wind-borne debris resistant
glazing (FEMA, December 2010)
4-4-3 Corrosion and Decay Resistance
Buildings in coastal environments are prone to damage from corrosion,
moisture-related decay, and termite damage to building materials. Metal
corrosion is most pronounced on coastal constructions (within 3,000 feet of
the ocean), but moisture-related decay and termite damage are prevalent
throughout coastal areas
Recommendations to avoid Corrosion
- Use hot-dip galvanized steel or stainless steel hardware
-Reinforcing steel should be protected from corrosion by sound materials
(e.g., masonry, mortar, grout, concrete)

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-Use galvanized or epoxy-coated
reinforcing steel in areas where the
potential for corrosion is high
-it is important to verify that the
connector plate and the fastener are the
same type of metal.
4-4-4Moisture Resistance
Moisture-resistant materials can
greatly reduce maintenance and extend
the life of a coastal construction.
However, such materials by themselves
cannot prevent all moisture damage.
Proper design and installation of
moisture barriers In the fig () the metal
rusted due to exposing to moisture Figure 1: Rust metals due to absence of moisture insulation
Source: researcher
Recommendations
- Control wood decay by separating wood from moisture, using preservative-
treated wood, using naturally durable wood, and applying protective wood
finishes
- Use proper detailing of wood joints and construction to eliminate standing
water and reduce moisture absorption by the wood
-Do not use untreated wood in direct contact with concrete.
-For structural uses, employ concrete that is sound, dense, and durable
• Library of Alexandria
The new library in Alexandria is a good example for good
designing ,planning ,choosing the right building materials

Table 1seaside new library of alexadria problems and the designing aspect to
avoid the problem author Mohsen M. Aboulnaga
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 3 The thermal insulation of external wall – main reading hall. (a) Granite cladding of external
walls. (b) External granite cladding. (c) Details of the thermal insulation wall layers (Images
credit: (a) Mohsen M. Aboulnaga and (b, c) BA

Conclusion:

At the end , the research highlighted that there is a strong connection among the
seaside construction, human and nature : the relation between the human and
the seaside construction and how it affect the human mood and brain , the
relation between the seaside construction and the nature around it and how the
nature affect on the seaside construction ,and lastly the attempt of the human
trying to develop the techniques to increase the efficiency of the seaside
constructions as if the human try to protect them from the damage of nature to
enjoy inside these constructions for the longest time it could be . This relation
among the three is like a triangle every side is connected to the other two sides
affecting and affected by the two other factors

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 References:

1 REFERENCES
7 Union of Concerned Scientists. (n.d.). , “Infographic: Sea Level Rise and Global Warming”, Web.

Al-Sallal, K. A. ( (2016)). Passive and Low Energy Cooling.

Antunes, A. d. (2008. ). A Arquitectura de Veraneio no Concelho de Oeiras.

Britta K. Hölzel, *. J. (2012 Jan 30.). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter
density.

Chenchen Peng*, K. Y. (2016). Effects of the Coastal Environment on Well-being.

FEMA. (December 2010). Home builder's Guide To Coastal Conestruction.

Hadhazy, A. (2016). Why Does the Sound of Water Help You Sleep?

IPPC. (2007). Climate Change. Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to
the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate.

Kurt, S. (2014). The Effects of Color on the Moods of College Students.

Mann, D. (2002). Negative Ions Create Positive Vibes.

Mathew P.White, I. W. ( September 2013). Coastal proximity, health and well-being: Results from a
longitudinal panel survey.

Rismanian, M. F. (2016). Investigation of the effect of walkway orientation on natural ventilation.

Santamouris, M. ((2005)). Energy in the urban built environment: The role of natural ventilation.

Sharma*, A. A. (18 January, 2017)). Need For Development of Coastal Architecture.

Unhabitat organization. (2008/2009). State of the World’s Cities Report.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2017). Climate Impacts on Coastal Areas. Retrieved
from https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-coastal-
areas_.html

Wright, A. ((1998)). Beginner’s guide to color psychology.

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