Journal

It was gratifying to return to the Treehouse at Elephant Park - a project I designed at Bell Phillips together with Ethan Ly - to see it merging so well into its setting.

When we designed it, we envisaged that it would gradually disappear into the park. We wanted the timber to naturally age and grey. We imagined the planting growing up and around and through it. We hoped the community would find it inviting and approachable. Some architects want their buildings to stand out. We wanted to see this one melt into the background.

On the day I visited there’s a community workshop taking place in the room downstairs. The coffee shop, run by Abramo and Hana who have been serving coffees in Elephant Park for years is thriving and up on the terrace in the quiet embrace of the London Plane Tree there’s a host of people working, chatting, children running around.

During the planning process Michael Tsoukaris at Southwark, asked us to incorporate planting on to the terrace to maintain the privacy to adjacent flats. IHe was spot on and it turned out to be a masterstroke. Not only does it do this, but it gives the terrace the quality of a secret garden, working with the tree to immerse you in greenery. The planting is now starting to overflow, bursting out through the railings to connect with the planting below.

I’m hopeful that this process will continue and as I return the pavilion and park will continue to seamlessly meld into a single entity.

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