The Welcoming Shelter
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A kinetic structure providing a flexible outdoor dining space for the King's Cross Skip Garden
The King's Cross Skip Garden is a community garden situated ten minutes walk north of King's Cross station.
The aim of the project is to create a space in which staff, volunteers and customers can enjoy the garden in any weather.
In cold wet and windy conditions the shelter stays closed, providing enclosure from the south westerly prevailing wind. When the weather improves the structure can be opened using a double movement mechanism allowing the roof section to pivot around a central axis whilst simultaneously opening the front section. This makes the space very open with full views over the garden.
The structure had to be lightweight to facilitate this movement, so a space-frame fabricated of laminated timber beams and aluminium tubes was used.
Data
- Begun: Apr 2015
- Completed: Jun 2015
- Floor area: 18m2
- Sector: Public realm
- Total cost: £22,000
- Tender date: Sep 2014
- Address: Kings Cross Skip Garden , Tapper Walk , King’s Cross , London , N1C 4AQ, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Charlie Redman
- Client: Global Generation
- Metal Fabricator: Metalcraft UK
- Lighting : George Scott Design
- Consultant and Structural Engineer: Arup
- Project management: 2 Forty One