The pedestrianisation of the pier creates a new kind of seafront, that re-envisages and reinvigorates the traditional archetype
There has been a pier in the Florida resort of St Petersburg since 1889, initially as a railway trestle for the delivery of goods into the city from Tampa Bay, then as a railway-accessible attraction for locals and tourists. In 1926 the ‘Million Dollar Pier’ opened, featuring a huge pleasure pavilion. This was demolished in 1973 to make way for a five-storey inverted pyramid – a rare example of a purpose-designed structure from the modern era. Due to be completed later this year, the latest chapter in its history sees the pyramid demolished and the pier comprehensively remodelled, extended and landscaped. The proposed mixed-use project will feature restaurants, cafés and fishing decks along with boating, bathing and shopping facilities. Unlike previous incarnations, which could accommodate trains or cars, the pier will be pedestrianised, creating a new kind of seafront realm that re-envisages and reinvigorates the traditional pier archetype.
Images courtesy of the architect
This case study is part of Typology: Pier. Read the full article here
