A park pavilion by Curl la Tourelle Head Architecture provides a local resource in south London

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Kilian O’Sullivan

CLTH worked closely with the London Borough of Southwark to revitalise Peckham Rye Park and Common over a two-year period. Central to the proposal to improve public infrastructure is a new public pavilion at the heart of the grade-2-listed Victorian park. This provides a venue for children’s and scouts’ groups and facilities for sports clubs.

The design draws on the Park’s Victorian heritage and a picturesque aesthetic, suggested by the natural setting in a copse of mature trees with open views to the playing fields. The diverse needs of stakeholders were met as a result of public engagement meetings with park users and dialogue with Southwark’s team and local planners.

The pavilion houses the required changing areas and playroom, and the space in front of the building has become somewhere children play and dog walkers gather.

The building envelope comprises easily transportable pre-fabricated sections, using ethically-sourced, wholly traceable and renewable pine and spruce. The zinc, from VMZinc, uses 17 per cent recycled material in manufacture and is 95 per cent reusable.

The wayfinding strategy was created in collaboration with graphic designer Fraser Muggeridge. It uses ceramic tiles with inlaid typography spelling out ‘change’ and ‘play’, signalling the two primary functions of the building in a cohesive, contemporary manner.

Wide walkways, a flush level threshold to each space and a gradient of less than 1:20 ensure that the interior is fully accessible and complies with the Equality Act 2010 and Approved Documents M and K.

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