Highbury Fields Café

Organised as a cluster of three smaller buildings a series of over-sailing pitched roofs link the group and provide shelter and shade to timber bench seating integrated into the design of the facade that bring cafe users into physical contact with the building.

Alongside the cafe, are park keeper’s facilities, public toilets and a Changing Place, located to make the whole of Highbury Fields inclusive and accessible to all of the community. 

Working carefully between the roots of large mature trees, the cafe is designed with low embodied materials including timber based insulation, pre-fabricated timber frame and UK grown timber cladding. Designed with ALLT Environmental structural engineers, it is founded on screw piles and is concrete free utilising reclaimed demolition waste in gabions to retain existing ground. An ASHP and high levels of insulation and air tightness seek to minimise energy consumption and running costs. 

Demolition of the existing buildings, including a derelict former park keeper’s cottage,  took place in 2026 and has opened up views across what was a dark and unwelcoming part of the park.  A temporary café concession has been installed on the site of the former cafe during the design phases.

These new buildings will be a welcome addition to Islington’s largest park providing improved facilities for the community. We look forward to working on the next steps to realise the design.