The stick of rock or ice cream served from a timber kiosk is a quintessential part of the British seaside.  These structures have often evolved organically from their original shell.

Kiosk 9 came into our Practice as a simple extension and tidying up of such a seaside kiosk.

The initial proposal was to extend the building over the surrounding redundant and unsightly Essex block and asphalt slipway to dramatically improve the beach landscape.  After playing with sticks of rock, and exploring the traditional palette of timber clapperboard, the idea of using this simple material in a playful way and adding colour presented the idea for a small iconic beach structure.  The use of vernacular tongue and grove timber clapperboard in an interesting orientation and looking at the idea of the building as a piece of confectionery and means of creating a piece of art on the beach encourages people to come and enjoy fine dining along the Thames Estuary.

The kiosk explores the opportunity to enhance the setting and surrounding environment by means of decoration and colour to form a new piece of public art and a strong response to the seaside and coastal setting.