London, United Kingdom
Designed by Chris Dyson and his team at Chris Dyson Architects, the new Crystal Palace Park Café is part of a package of improvement and conservation works for the wider Crystal Palace Park, south-east London, where the Palace was relocated following the Great Exhibition of 1851.
The new building is situated in the same location as a former café, but its orientation was shifted to be perpendicular to the park’s central axis.
By doing this the building becomes the center point of a new universally accessible route between the central axis and the lakeside path.
The new structure has a classic two-story shape with a pitched roof.
Inspired by the scaly skin of the dinosaur sculptures located in the park, the architects have chosen to cover the facades with semi-circular cedar wood scales.
The four facades are punctuated with generous windows that help to create welcoming, bright interior spaces and also offer wide panoramic views of the lake and the park.
The ground floor accommodates up to 60 people indoors, with seating for a further 50 on the external terrace, including a public W.C. and an external service kiosk.
The first floor offers a multi-purpose community space that can accommodate a further 60 seats.
The flexible space is designed to be used by local groups and organizations or as an extension of the cafeteria service during the busiest periods.
“We are thrilled to have been chosen to design this key social amenity in the heart of Crystal Palace Park. I am delighted that the café is already proving to be such a popular destination with the local community,” states Dyson.
The café was officially opened in 2020 and is managed by Brown & Green.
Project: Crystal Palace Park Café
Architects: Chris Dyson Architects
Landscape Architects: Kinnear Landscape Architects
Client: Crystal Palace Park Café
Photographers: Peter Landers, Raf Makda, David Churchill
