The Electric Light Station was designed and built by CarverHaggard and our students in Studio 8 of the Cass School of Architecture as part of Islington Exhibits, an initiative to unlock hidden venues in Islington and give artists and craftspeople a space to display their work.
The pavilion explores the layered history of the site and local area, which was historically used both for religious assembly and heavy industry. In the nineteenth century, the first electrical power supplies in London were provided by church vestries, as the precursors to the London Boroughs. This is seen in the former Vestry of St. Mary Electric Lighting Station at the corner of Eden Grove, with its red brick facade and integrated terracotta signage.
The structure recalls this local precedent and industrial and religious archetypes, and is designed to create an informal backdrop for public events, and a contemplative interior space with specific qualities of light and sound.
It is made from 2" x 1" softwood and other materials partially recycled from the Cass Summer Show. 2" x 1" is a small and lightweight section not typically used for structures of this scale, and the constraints and construction techniques required to make use of it are celebrated in the detailing of the pavilion. Thanks to Price & Myers for assisting with the structural design.