About

Coastal Design Review looks at the decisions that give places by the sea their character: how buildings meet the shore, what materials say through their surface and how public spaces frame a view. It is for curious readers who enjoy noticing why a place looks and works as it does, whether they live near the water or simply find coastal design compelling.

A subject with many edges

Coastal design reaches from architecture and interiors to objects, colour and landscapes. We follow those connections without treating every seaside building or palette as part of one style. The coast is varied; its design deserves attention to the particular place.

Look, compare, understand

Our articles explain design choices in plain language and use comparisons to make differences visible. We distinguish what can be observed from interpretation, and favour ideas readers can carry into their own looking rather than rules to follow.

For the attentive reader

You do not need a design background to read Coastal Design Review. A willingness to pause over a roofline, a material or the way a path meets the water is enough to begin.