Phillies Café is a new facility within Phillimore Recreation Ground, designed to provide a simple, welcoming, and sustainable space for park visitors. We provided structural and civil engineering services, supporting the project from early planning through to completion.
The building is formed from a series of glulam timber frames, with the roof beams spanning the open-plan interior to create a clear, efficient structure. The exposed timber eliminates the need for additional finishes and simplifies future maintenance. Given the presence of clay and nearby trees, foundations had to be carefully designed to deal with the changing soil volumes.
A package of enabling works alongside detailed soil investigations and engagements with the local authorities allowed the footings to be reduced significantly, majorly reducing the impacts on the park. A brise soleil extends the structure outward, offering sheltered seating and helping to manage rainwater run-off.
Our civil engineering scope included drainage design for the site. Surface water is managed through soakaways developed from site-specific infiltration testing, designed to accommodate a 1-in-100-year storm event plus a climate change allowance.
Foul water is directed to a private pumping station before connecting to the wider network. Around the building, low-profile slot drains and a simple sub-base design were chosen to suit local ground conditions and reduce long-term maintenance.
The result is a straightforward and robust design, where careful engineering supports a sustainable, low-impact building for the local community.
