Modern architectural building with wooden elements, surrounded by trees and greenery, in an urban park setting.

The Tree House
Southwark, London

KEY FACTS
  • Client: Lendlease

  • Project Cost: Undisclosed

  • Status: Completed 2021

  • Category: Public

AWARDS
  • RIBA London 2024 | Winner

  • Civic Trust 2024 | Highly Commended

  • Dezeen Civic Building 2023 | Shortlisted

  • Architects Journal 2023 | Shortlisted

  • Structural Timber Project of the Year 2022 | Finalist

  • Structural Timber Retail & Leisure 2022 | Finalist

  • NLA 2022 | Shortlisted

  • NLA 2021 | Shortlisted

“The team at Bell Phillips has helped bring our vision to life by designing a memorable space that provides the community with somewhere to host events, relax with a coffee, meet friends or just sit and watch the world go by.”

— Kristy Lansdown, Project Director, Lendlease

Park scene with people, trees, strollers, and urban high-rise buildings in background.

Elephant Park is at the heart of a £2.3 billion regeneration led by Lendlease, which will create 3000 new homes and establish one of London’s best new open spaces. This new pavilion for Lendlease is the centrepiece of the new park, accommodating WCs, food and beverage kiosks, a new community space and a viewing terrace.

The triangular pavilion is formed by three volumes bound together by an oversailing roof terrace centred on an existing mature London plane tree. The deck provides elevated views across the park and the opportunity to circulate beneath the tree’s canopy. The pavilion is designed to create a seamless flow between park and pavilion, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside, enclosure and exposure.
 
Sustainability and embodied carbon have been key considerations of the design. The structure has been designed in cross-laminated timber (CLT) with sustainably-sourced timber cladding and bamboo decking resulting in a building with exceptionally low embodied carbon. 

Modern pedestrian bridge with metal railing spanning between buildings, surrounded by trees with green foliage, in an urban setting.
Modern wooden building with large trees, slatted facade, and people walking by, including children in swimwear.
Interior of a modern public pavilion with wooden structure, featuring open spaces under tree canopies, pedestrians walking and a person cycling. Natural light filters through, highlighting an outdoor ambiance.
A well-lit outdoor pathway surrounds a large tree at night, with a modern building labeled 'The Tree House' visible in the background.
Modern building with wooden facade and large trees, outdoor area, pathway, and glass windows, evening lighting.
Outdoor urban park with trees, green picnic tables, people sitting, and a brick building.
Construction site with crane lifting materials, workers in safety gear, and buildings in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Construction workers in orange safety vests and helmets working on scaffolding.
Construction workers wearing helmets and vests discussing at a site.
Three construction workers in high-visibility vests and hard hats standing outside, engaged in conversation behind a metal structure.

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