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The Green Room, the neighbourhood restaurant, bar and garden created by Coin Street Community Builders in collaboration with the National Theatre and designed by Benjamin Marks (pictured below), has won the top award in The Temporary category at New London Architecture Awards.
The Awards, presented by NLA’s Chairman Peter Murray, at London’s Guildhall on Tuesday 7 July, represent the best newly completed and upcoming projects in the capital, chosen for their architectural quality and wider contribution to London’s built environment. The Green Room competed alongside nine other projects in The Temporary category.
NLA Awards Jury member Dominique Alba of Atelier Parisien d’Urbanisme, Paris, said: “The Green Room is a reminder that temporary architecture does not always need to rely on the extraordinary or bizarre. It’s using a style that is normal, one which allows for a highly functional, yet sophisticated restaurant to operate prior to the site’s eventual redevelopment.”
The restaurant, which opened in December 2014, uses land awaiting permanent development on part of CSCB’s Doon Street site, London SE1.
Of his award Benjamin says: “As a young designer, a public building on the South Bank was a daunting prospect, although the combination of an inspiring client and a great team helped to bring the project together. It is fantastic to see people enjoying the completed building, but to have been recognised with this award as well is more than I could have expected.”
Created on land previously occupied by CSCB’s offices, The Green Room has been designed by recently graduated Benjamin Marks. In 2011-12 Benjamin, and a fellow student, led a team of volunteers to dismantle CSCB’s offices – a Walter Segal-designed building. The pair then used the components to design and build a new office and playspace for Oasis Children’s Venture, a children’s charity in Stockwell. With the site clear, the phased development of the mixed use Doon Street scheme was underway.
In 2013 Phase 1, the new home for Rambert – the country’s leading dance company was completed. Phase 2 of the scheme to the east of Rambert, includes a public indoor swimming and leisure centre, residential homes for sale and restaurant/retail at ground level. This is expected to commence 2015/16 requiring land to the rear of The Green Room during construction. The final phase – on the site of The Green Room – includes an education/office building and a new town square. Architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands are the master planners of the Doon Street scheme.
The new restaurant and surrounding garden, Rambert and the National Theatre’s new Max Rayne Centre all contribute to the rejuvenation of this part of Upper Ground, South Bank.
Benjamin was chosen as the designer after completing the Oasis Building. The design of The Green Room is inspired by the distinctive material qualities of the South Bank, the building’s robust, yet loose fit construction reflects the projected 5 year lifespan.