Chris Dyson Architects has completed a timber-clad cafe in Crystal Palace Park

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Photos
David Churchill, Raf Makda, Peter Landers

Chris Dyson Architects has completed a new cafe in Crystal Palace Park, south London. The two-storey structure comprises a cafe and terrace on the ground floor, with a community space above. The latter doubles as a hire venue and second service point for the cafe during busy periods. A footbridge connects the first-floor terrace to the lakeside path. Wrapped in half-round cedar shingles, the building is intended to reference the scaled skin of the grade one-listed dinosaur sculptures at the opposite end of the lake.

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Funded by the Mayor of London, the project forms part of a package of upgrades and conservation works proposed for the wider park. Income generated by the building will be used to fund further improvements, including the ongoing conservation of the dinosaur sculptures and geological illustrations.

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The location of the cafe provides – for the first time – an accessible-for-all connection between the park’s central axis and the lakeside path. Additional pathways and planting help frame the building and terrace in the surrounding landscape, with deciduous trees chosen to invoke a strong autumnal colour and provide a visual connection to the existing vegetation.

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Large areas of glazing ensure light and airy interior spaces, as well as panoramic views of the dinosaur models and surrounding area. The first-floor terrace is connected via a footbridge to the lakeside path. A black brick chimneystack serves as a wayfinding landmark within the park.

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Credits

Architect
Chris Dyson Architects
Structural engineer
The Morton Partnership
Landscape
Kinnear Landscape Architects
Quantity surveyor
Cinns