New cafe for St Martin-in-the-Fields

Platform 5 Architects have won planning consent for a new temporary outdoor cafe for St Martin-in-the-Fields in central London. The new kiosk is due to open April 2013. A set of images can be downloaded at http://goodfellowcommunications.dphoto.com/album/4d014h.

The new cafe will be sited the east courtyard of St Martin’s - one of the most sensitive sites in central London next to one of the most famous churches in the world.

Situated between Trafalgar Square and The Strand, it is largely underused despite thousands of tourists and workers who pass by every day. The site is a rare open space in the heart of central London and St Martin’s hopes that the new cafe will provide an attractive catering offer for local workers, residents and tourists as well as to generate income to support the work of church and the long term preservation of its listed buildings.

Platform 5 Architects’ cafe will be a small, self-contained temporary structure in the corner of the courtyard, opposite the East Window. Its simple design is sympathetic to its historic surroundings, while contemporary materials will be used to provide a pleasing visual contrast and a focus for the site.  As the cafe will only operate during the summer months, Platform 5 Architects have designed a kiosk that can be easily removed from the site during the winter. Lightweight yet stylish tables and chairs will be used that can be removed each day and easily stored within the unit when the cafe is not in operation.

The new cafe is an extension of St-Martin-in-the-Fields’ ethos of welcome and hospitality to its diverse mix of communities including congregations, concert-goers, tourists, local residents and office workers. The cafe will operate alongside the already well-established and award-winning Cafe in the Crypt and, like the existing cafe, will generate income for the church and its charitable work.  In commissioning Platform 5 Architects soon after the completion of the 2007 refurbishment, the church is also continuing a programme of using contemporary art and architecture to enhance James Gibb’s original building, completed in 1726.

Hugh Player, Chief Executive of St Martin-in-the-Fields Ltd said:

“The Courtyard Cafe is an exciting new venture for St Martin-in-the-Fields. It will complement our internal catering operation, the Les Routiers Cafe of the Year 2012 Cafe in the Crypt, now celebrating 25 years of service to visitors to St Martin’s and Trafalgar Square. Platform 5 shared our vision in creating this new contemporary space that will work well with the church’s Georgian and modern architecture while having the flexibility to provide the same great service to new and existing customers.”

For Platform 5 Architects, this project represents a significant new phase in the practice’s development. Following the recent refurbishment of Waltham Forest College - the practice’s first education project - St Martin-in-the-Fields represents the practice’s first public realm project.

Peter Allen, Partner at Platform 5 Architects said:

“It has been an honour to work with St Martin-in-the-Fields and we’re delighted to have received planning consent for the new temporary cafe. St Martin’s are great clients who understand the benefits contemporary design can bring to a historic setting and for Platform 5, it’s hard to think of a more exciting place to be building our first public realm project. We’re really looking forward to the construction phase and enjoying the cafe next year.”

• Visit Platform 5 Architects website: http://platform5architects.com/