A light bubble in London's Design District

Serving as a food market, the new architectural addition in London’s Design District – signed by SelgasCano – is located at the main pedestrian access of the Greenwich Peninsula.

The Design District Canteen, dominated by a bright yellow hue, is composed of a light metal structure, a clear ETFE membrane shell, and polycarbonate panels. All these layers cover a central spine-like core that houses the market itself and features translucent backlight materials, that make the project look like a big lamp, all night long. In addition, at ground level, the project is protected by polycarbonate panels, useful to prevent any vandalism.

“The ETFE membrane is subdivided in different panels, some of them operable for ventilation reasons and to provide the wonderful feeling of being in a street market,” said the architects.