Channel 5 Headquarters

Architen Landrell created suspended mesh fabric barrel vaults for the restaurant at Channel 5’s London headquarters. They cut glare from the glass roof by day and, at night, are lowered and lit with coloured LEDs.

At the offices of Channel 5 solar control during the daytime, and theatrical lighting at night was the brief given to Architen Landrell in order to transform the dreary space.

The result is a unique but versatile environment for the staff and visitors to the national television channel. The mesh fabric barrel vaults were tensioned over semi circular frames and suspended from the ceiling to add an interesting architectural feature to an otherwise fairly plain restaurant area.

The glass peak of the restaurant roof also allowed too much glare, a problem which the fabric features help to counteract. The light and airy nature of the semi-transparent material means the structures have an almost ephemeral presence and don’t impose themselves on the people below.

At night, however, they take on a different look as the barrel vaults are lowered closer to the tables and lit with coloured LED lighting to create a more intimate atmosphere.