British Land
Regent’s Place Pavilions
Awards
A New Way In
Conceptualised as organic, soft forms, the three pavilions enliven the British Land office campus, signalling to the surrounding city a new way into the Regent’s Place Campus and enticing people to gather and engage with a lushly planted new public space.
The structures increase in function and size as visitors enter the campus from Regent’s Park to the west. The smallest provides a sheltered enclave with a curved bench, the medium houses a playful revolving circular bench, and the largest enclosure encapsulates a performance space for the local community theatre.
Construction and Collaboration
The development of these pavilions involved extensive sketching, model studies, VR simulations, and collaboration between Nex architects and timber specialists. The structures are made of over 400 oak lamella laths, derived from short sections of sustainably sourced French oak.
The laths are assembled in four concentric rings with varying lengths to achieve a self-supporting structure while preserving an air of spontaneity. Steel base anchors the pavilions and incorporates uplighting. Large segments were pre-assembled off-site to increase assembly efficiency and reduce waste.
Designed for a More Circular Economy
Conceived with circular economy principles in mind, the pavilions weave together sustainability with architectural innovation. Crafted from FSC certified oak, the structures embody responsible sourcing, linking their creation directly to sustainable forestry management.
Supporting the ‘Local Production’ principle, the manufacturing process was entrusted to a local manufacturer in the UK. This decision reduced the transportation emissions associated with sourcing materials from afar.
Designed with a careful consideration for lifecycle, the pavilions champion the concepts of flexibility, deconstruction, and re-use. If the need arises, individual laths can be replaced, or entire structures could be deconstructed and re-assembled in a new location.
By ensuring that components can be disassembled and reused, the project counters the ‘take-make-waste’ linear model, promoting longevity and the minimisation of waste. Thus, the pavilions stand not only as distinctive architectural forms but also as a modest demonstration of circular economy principles in action, their existence urging a shift towards sustainable, responsible design.
Enhancing Biodiversity
In addition to their architectural function, the pavilions contribute to the biodiversity of Regent’s Place. They encourage people to connect with nature, which can have positive effects on mental well-being. The green spaces around the pavilions also provide habitats for various wildlife species.
- Name:
- Regent’s Place Pavilions
- Client:
- British Land
- Date:
- March 2022
- Location:
- London, UK
- Status:
- Complete
- Sector:
- Public RealmLeisure
- Expertise:
- Public RealmArchitectureSustainability
- Team:
- Alan DempseyJoe Dent
- Photography:
- Luke Hayes
- Collaborators:
- Structural Engineer: Arup Project Manager: M3 Landscape: Townshend Timber Fabrication: Xylotech Contractor: Maylim
