pearce+ co-builds guerrilla shading pavilion from salvaged timber and canvas sails in camden

architecture practice pearce+ completes the guerrilla shading pavilion for the camden inspire festival, an open, mobile cooling structure.

EE17 edited by christina vergopoulou November 9, 2026 3 min

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PEARCE+ AND VOLUNTEERS ERECT SHADING PAVILION IN CAMDEN, London

Commissioned by Camden Town Unlimited and Euston Town BIDs for the Camden Inspire festival, architecture practice PEARCE+ collaborated with advocacy group Shade The UK and local volunteers to co-build the Guerrilla Shading pavilion. Sited at Camden Collective in London, the structure responds to escalating urban temperatures and the urban heat island effect, functioning as reusable, mobile shade infrastructure designed for continuous reassembly rather than single-event use.

pearce+ co-builds guerrilla shading pavilion from salvaged timber and canvas sails in camden - 1 — all images ©Samuel Bray

RECLAIMED TIMBER AND FABRIC SAILS shape Guerrilla Shading Pavilion

The primary framework comprises five prefabricated panels sized for transport in a standard transit van. Engineered with a tapering profile to counter wind loads transferred by cantilevered tensile canopies, the structure utilizes structural timber salvaged from previous PEARCE+ installations. The lower register of the frame is intentionally left open, enabling visitors to manually weave an enclosure using reclaimed balloon fabric supplied by Cameron Hot Air Balloons and Inflate Studio. Tensioned naturally dyed canvas sails, developed in collaboration with artist Auda Sakho, project outward from the core frame to expand the shaded footprint over the surrounding garden. Complementing the physical pavilion, Camden Inspire and PEARCE+ Studio published Guerrilla Shading Our City, an open-source guide detailing low-cost shading tactics, ranging from DIY external shutters and tensile sails to urban tree planting and municipal planning permissions.

pearce+ co-builds guerrilla shading pavilion from salvaged timber and canvas sails in camden - 2 — Guerrilla Shading pavilion is a co-built urban cooling structure designed by PEARCE+

pearce+ co-builds guerrilla shading pavilion from salvaged timber and canvas sails in camden - 3 — the structural skeleton is formed by five prefabricated modular timber panels

pearce+ co-builds guerrilla shading pavilion from salvaged timber and canvas sails in camden - 4 — the installation functions as reusable, demountable infrastructure

pearce-plus-guerrilla-shading-pavilion-salvaged-timber-canvas-sails-camden-designboom-1800-2 — festival participants hand-weave the lower facade using textile offcuts from hot-air balloons

pearce+ co-builds guerrilla shading pavilion from salvaged timber and canvas sails in camden - 5 — reclaimed nylon membranes from hot-air balloon textile offcuts filter direct solar exposure

pearce+ co-builds guerrilla shading pavilion from salvaged timber and canvas sails in camden - 6 — volunteers and festival attendees take part in the completion of the pavilion

pearce-plus-guerrilla-shading-pavilion-salvaged-timber-canvas-sails-camden-designboom-1800-3 — hand-woven textile braids decorate the timber frame while acting as a secondary shading lattice

pearce+ co-builds guerrilla shading pavilion from salvaged timber and canvas sails in camden - 7 — an open-lattice structure facilitates continuous natural cross-ventilation through the seating interior

pearce+ co-builds guerrilla shading pavilion from salvaged timber and canvas sails in camden - 8 — naturally dyed canvas sails cantilever outwards to shade the surrounding terrain

pearce+ co-builds guerrilla shading pavilion from salvaged timber and canvas sails in camden - 9 — the project operates in tandem with the Guerrilla Shading Our City open-source manual

pearce+ co-builds guerrilla shading pavilion from salvaged timber and canvas sails in camden - 10 — the pavilion provides passive thermal comfort during peak solar radiation periods

project info:

name: Guerrilla Shading Pavilion for Camden Inspire Festival
architect: PEARCE+ | @pearce_plus

lead architect: Owen Pearce

design team: Owen Hughes Pearce, Ken Pearce, Sam Bray, Charlotte Martin, Hannah Innes, Tim Lyddon

collaborator: Shade the UK

structural engineering: Root Workshop & Momentum Structural Engineers

material donations: Cameron Balloons and Inflate Studio

natural dyeing workshops: Auda Sakho

event: Camden Inspire Festival | @camdeninspire

location: Camden Town, London, UK

photographer: Samuel Bray | @sbrayphoto

thanks to: Georgie, Eve and the Camden Unlimited team, and everyone who participated in the public workshops

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