Out of 188 entries from local and international architecture practices, Bureau de Change made it to the top 4 finalists for the ‘Pavilion for all’ competition organised by Argent Related and Barnet. The competition was for the design for a landmark pavilion in one of Europe’s biggest regeneration projects, Brent Cross Town.

The history of the Clitterhouse Manor served as the foundation of our design proposal. Archaeological excavations around the Clitterhouse Farm have uncovered its anthropological archive, revealing past recurring typologies of the farmstead where gabled roofs structures surrounding courtyards are reconfigured time and time again over the course of history.

Generations of community continue to gather within the shifting architectural formation of varied sloping heights and nestled pockets of outdoor spaces. The design proposal aims to capture, reinterpret, and re-imagine these spaces in the current context of regeneration, inserting a rich communal space into the Playing Field.

The pavilion is positioned where the circulation and sight-lines of the Playing Fields’ entrances intersect, forming a focal point within the landscape. The interplay between transparent and solid creates a gradient of porosity, allowing for unobstructed views from the cafe and privacy for the changing rooms. The central courtyard serves its historical purpose, enabling fluid transitions between facilities and acting as a catalyst for human interactions.