Lea Bridge Library Pavilion

Project Info

In this refurbishment and extension of an East London Library, a wood-lined adaptable community space and café provides visitors with flexible and accessible spaces to work, learn and socialise.

Making use of a mass timber primary structure, this 250m2 single-storey extension revives the Grade-II listed Lea Bridge Library into a new civic heart for the community.

Using the existing garden wall as a structural spine, cantilevered beams of LVL support a fully glazed façade overlooking Friendship Gardens. Designed to sit harmoniously between existing trees in the garden, the elongated pavilion scoops inwards, protecting the root system of a close-neighbouring mature tree.

A pivoting timber door makes the most of this momentary squeeze in the plan as an opportunity to divide the space, creating a private events room.

With reuse at the heart of the project, salvaged wood from trees felled across London is used for all internal joinery and furniture, including a continuous wall of fluted joinery connecting bookshelves with inbuilt seating, creating interspersed reading rooms.