PAVILION FOR ALL — THE EARTHWORK
2021
Sector: Public, Cultural & Sports
Location: Clitterhouse Playing Fields, Brent Cross, London
Status: National competition entry
We reinterpret the site as a fluid assemblage of elements: earth, wood, air and water. Activating flows of energy from all directions and with all user groups is key, and this resonates with the specific typology of a Pavilion for ALL, which should be more inviting and (age/gender) friendly rather than a dominant ‘muscular’ language.
We introduce the new pavilion/sports centre as a part of a journey rather than an ending.
Located at the intersection of pathways, situated alongside the playground, the building has an organic, scattered layout which is defined by three out-facing curved landforms.
In the centre a circle of native trees are introduced providing a sheltered environment, dappled shade cast onto the curved earth walls, and cultivates ecology by extending the amount of available habitats across the site.
This is a space for air and flow, a meeting place, outdoor seating and calm space for reflection. The ground articulation in the centre provides a subtle change in level from three directions facilitating level access for ALL alongside the three curves, covered by the extended roofs.
The three inhabited walls accommodate more private facilities such as changing rooms and washrooms. Built in rammed earth with strengthened cross-laminated-timber grid of columns, they work as an insulated load-bearing ‘superstructure’.
A series of light-weight, prefabricated timber-framed rooms (for flexible uses), designed for de-assembly as plug-ins to the rammed-earth ‘superstructure’. Each is carefully enveloped by layers of natural materials to suit each use such as straw, bamboo and mycelium insulation; permitting a considered circular life cycle.
We aim to enhance the raw quality of this open field as-found and add and soften the space and structure of the sports pavilion in an natural way which challenges the prevailing muscular image of sports building typology by rebranding a Pavilion for ALL.
STUDIO CLOUD in collaboration with Nicholas Phillips and Guy Moulson.
