london school of economics

As part of a wider environmental improvement scheme for the LSE, we were asked to create a small and informal meeting space near the LSE’s library, in which a café would act as a social focus.

The new space is situated on the roof of an existing single storey building. A new canopy provides shelter along one edge of the space. As it is overlooked by surrounding buildings, it had to be attractive when viewed from above.

The café itself is a glazed enclosure, and the servery is an oval stainless steel ‘pod’ which nestles under the canopy. The glazing containing the seating area opens out in the summer to form a seamless continuation of the plaza.

A blue lighting scheme was designed in conjunction with the artist Bruce Allen and is set within the paving. This combines with uplighters to light the new trees and the canopy to extend the life of the space into the evening