London Festival of Architecture: Our pick of the best

Although the structure is only temporary, the initiative will continue to encourage the maintenance of public parks and spaces, and there may be similar installations to come.

TREExOFFICE 

Although working outdoors isn’t a particularly new phenomena, architecture studio Tate Harmer, in collaboration with architecture firm Gensler and artists Natalie Jeremijenko and Shuster + Moseley, constructed the potential office of the future. TREExOFFICE is built around a tree trunk, from compressed paper and timber, enclosed by rows of translucent plastic and polycarbonate slats, to provide expansive views out across the Hackney Park. 

The Horticultural Spa & Apothecary

Imagining a space where you can relax in the busy city, Loop.pH created an inflatable plastic dome along the River Thames. The Horticultural Spa & Apothecary Experience is pumped full of scented vapour to evoke the atmosphere of a traditional bathhouse. The studio has even installed pot plants into the pockets of latticed birch plywood that form the structure of the installation.

Japanese Temple by Kingston University students

Kingston University architecture students constructed an elegant Japanese temple in the gardens of Dorich House Museum, being inspired by historic wooden structures from East Asia. Proving that old architectural structures aren’t just things of the past, the students erected the five-metre tall traditional temple using over 3,000 components, predominantly timber. There are plans to disassemble the temple in November to make way for the next yearly, student-led project.

The Yellow Pavilion is quite different in design with a more rounded frame by Hall McKnight; and is home to a library of books.

Red and Yellow Pavilions

Architects from this year’s Focus Country, Ireland, have come together to create two bright pavilions within walking distance of one another at London’s King Cross. The larger, red structure, designed collaboratively by TAKA, Clancy Moore Architects and Steve Larkin Architects, combines chunky concrete columns and an elevated passageway, with the purpose of being a framework for activity. 

Replicating concrete playgrounds that were built to accompany housing blocks in the mid-20th century, their playground brings a more child-friendly touch with the soft ice cream colours, and all manner of slopes and stairs to climb. It is currently being exhibited at London’s RIBA headquarters.

Brutalist Playground by Assemble

Transforming issues of contemporary play using inspiration from the architectural era of Brutalism, architecture collective Assemble teamed up with British artist Simon Terrill to create a climbable frame from giant pieces of foam.