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Deal Pier is a bare bones structure. It could be compared to the skeleton of a beached whale, or the ribcage of a ship. The unadorned concrete piles carry a spare superstructure. It has a pared down, matter-of–fact quality. It is made of what it needs and nothing is superfluous. The anglers, walkers and day-trippers come and go, bringing a dash of life and colour to the scene. But you always sense that the structure will be swept clean and returned to the sea and the weather. This gives it a timeless quality. Its romance is closely linked to its ordinariness.

This stripped down, almost sandblasted quality of the structure is very practical. The bare bones are strong, but they allow the surge of the sea to pass through them, so minimising its force. The pared-down, weathered surfaces are allowed to find their own natural patina. The exposed concrete aggregate on some of the lampposts and benches is really lovely, like the surface of a pebble beach.

We discussed the ideal setting for a cup of tea, or supper at the end of the pier. For most of us we would prefer to sit on an empty deck with no building, on a windless balmy afternoon, and enjoy the panorama of the sky, the sea and the light. We decided that the best café should preserve this al-fresco quality, while dealing with the challenges of an endlessly changeable maritime environment. It should do so in a bare-bones sort of way.

The café building is exposed to the full force of the maritime environment and the choice of materials is important. Hardwood and mass concrete weather best and are improved with exposure. The hardwood will turn silver grey to match the concrete of the pier.

To minimise cost, the building has a rectangular form with repeating bays. The glazed café is located at the south end of the building and maximises views. Cool air is drawn through the underside of the deck and out through roof vents. A wind turbine, used to help power the building in use, will dump heat into benches for use by the anglers at night.