Papa's Community Hall

Papa’s Community Hall, Brixton

In the bustling heart of Brixton, London, Papa's Community Hall and Café creates an inspiring new, light-filled building, designed around a community street garden. Functioning as a learning hub for generations to come, the building's design draws focus to energy generation, self-sustainability, and horticultural learning spaces.

The café façade features a long, low timber bench facing the garden, along with bar seating overlooking this area from a higher level. A subtle pitch to the glazing evokes the image of a garden structure, reminiscent of Joseph Paxton's glasshouses at Chatsworth.

Its construction focuses on a natural material palette, demountable timber frame, wood and hemp insulation, and the re-use of existing floor slabs from the original building.

Timber frame model, 1:10, lime and card

Development garden sketch, layout paper

Street view, digital imagery

Form testing model, 1:200, card

Sequencing sketch, layout paper

Hall view through to café and street garden, digital imagery

Timber frame model: Hall view, 1:10, lime and card

Development cafe sketch, layout paper

Timber frame model: café facade, 1:10, lime and card

Form testing models, 1:200, card

Development garden sketch, layout paper

Massing street view, digital imagery

Timber frame model, 1:50, lime and tape

Timber frame model: café interior, 1:10, lime and card

Development street view sketch, layout paper

AOMD