London School of Architecture creates timber pavilion for local outreach

London School of Architecture creates A-frame pavilion as a "platform for local outreach"

The London School of Architecture has created the timber Dalston Pavilion in London as part of this year's London Festival of Architecture.

Located in a car park beside the university's campus in Hackney, The Dalston Pavilion will operate as an outdoor exhibition space and classroom to host a month-long events programme aimed at local young people.

The Dalston Pavilion for the London Festival of Architecture — A row of timber A-Frames form the structure

Designed and built by the London School of Architecture's (LSA) project delivery office Citizen alongside engineering firm Arup and the New School of Furniture Making, the pavilion features a triangular structure composed of timber A-Frames that reference the roof of a neighbouring church.

Local makers were also engaged in the construction process, including residents from the adjoining estate and local studios such as Orsman Construction, Studio Superfluo, OllyStudio and Or This.

Desk space at The Dalston Pavilion by LSA — The timber pavilion functions as an exhibition and learning space

A central corridor runs through the pavilion and is enclosed on one side to provide exhibition space, while its other side features operable in-fill panels that open up to desks lining the structure's outer edge.

Showcased within the space is work by young people who have participated in the LSA's Part 0 campaign – an initiative which aims to create wider access and engagement in architecture for 11-19 year olds.

"The Dalston Pavilion is a beacon of our Part 0 campaign, which has thus far delivered three access and outreach programmes, and helped us to build relationships with more than a dozen local schools," said head of school Neal Shasore.

"This year, the young people who participated in our programmes sought to reimagine the car park site adjacent to the school through design, craft and ecology."

"The pavilion tells their stories and showcases their work for the wider neighbourhood to see and discuss," he added.

Workshop at timber pavilion by LSA — Desk space is provided along the structure's outer edge

Workshops taking place at the venue throughout the month will be enabled through partnerships with a local artist and the Forest Road Youth Hub in Hackney.

The LSA was established in 2015 as London's first independent school of architecture to open since the Architectural Association was established in 1847.

Other pavilions designed for this year's London Festival of Architecture include colourful pavilions built from "everyday" building materials by Foster + Partners and NEON and a half-moon-shaped pavilion constructed from stepped timber arches by Unknown Works.

The photography is by Rikard Svalastoga Kahn.

London Festival of Architecture 2024 takes place from 1 to 30 June 2024 at various locations across London. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.