Finsbury Circus Gardens and Pavilion | Alvisi Kirimoto

Alvisi Kirimoto (www.alvisikirimoto.it) was named among the five finalists in a two-stage contest launched by The City of London Corporation for the rehabilitation of the Grade II-listed Finsbury Circus Gardens and Pavilion in the Square Mile, London, over a total area of 2.200 sqm — the city’s oldest and largest open space. 

The park reopened to the public in August with a temporary lawn after being closed for a decade to allow Crossrail to work on a section of tunnel between Farringdon and Liverpool Street. The brief was to provide a usable green space with functionality as a thoroughfare and as a place to stop and enjoy the surroundings. 

The proposal by Alvisi Kirimoto unfolds around the idea of celebrating an holistic idea of history, nature and life by making a correlation between the beautiful historic buildings of the Circus, the gardens surrounded by majestic trees, and the dynamism of everyday life. 

The project combines the classic shape of a circle — the Pavilion — with the elliptical morphology of the Circus, fostering a tension of movement, that symbolizes the expression of the relationship between people and nature. 

The Pavilion is a simple circular strip of 36 m in diameter, collecting light, protecting from the rain, dialoguing with the surrounding trees and bright buildings, and hosting the functional programme. 

The decentralized courtyard and the roof’s movement enrich the experience of the space by creating ever-changing and unusual perspectives. The pavilion blends into the green like a daisy in a field. 

The landscape merges with the pavilion, creating a seamless integration between the two. At the heart of the pavilion plaza, a flourishing cherry tree acts as a focal point. Rainwater collected from the pavilion roof  falls into the plaza and drains at the base of the tree, creating an ephemeral feature. The garden arrangement is classic, yet vibrant, and offers a variety of experiences, such as the evergreen surround, woodland walk, herbaceous borders, central lawn and the cherry tree plaza. 

The programme’s design was driven by the desire for maximum transparency. A full 200 sqm are devoted to the Pavilion activities, including a bar cafeteria, a foyer, and rest rooms;  50 sqm house the technical area, including the Gardener’s room, private restrooms and a dressing room with lockers, a storage room and a yard for vehicle access. In order to enhance the exterior space, 200 sqm are covered by glass and dedicated to outdoor activities. 

The pavilion is a flexible space where various different activities can be held: from art exhibitions to events, from weddings to workshops and meetings. 

The pavilion is designed to be easily assembled: the structure is composed of steel columns, timber beams covered by glass and perimetral steel blades to engulf a major exterior area. 

Project Credits 

Project Name: Finsbury Pavilion Design Competition

Client: The City of London

Location: London, UK

Architecture: Alvisi Kirimoto

Project leaders: Massimo Alvisi – Junko Kirimoto

Design team: Sara Ciarimboli, Roberto Fioretti, Daniel Costa Garriga

Landscape design: Alexandra Steed Urban

Structural design: ARUP

Competition:

Phase 1: submission July 2020

Phase 2: submission September 2020

Area Pavilion: 250 sqm

Area Garden: approx. 2.200 sqm