Craft Not Carbon is a temporary pavilion designed by Studio Saar in collaboration with Webb Yates Engineers and timber specialists Xylotek, installed in Crystal Palace Park as part of the 2023 London Festival of Architecture. Conceived as a shaded community hub for the summer, the pavilion explores how architecture can reduce carbon impact by re-centring craft, social value and repair within the life of building.
Formed by a simple larch timber frame supporting an eight-metre square roof, the structure reinterprets the woven bamboo canopy designed by the same team for Third Space. Bamboo was chosen in lieu of more durable carbon-intensive materials, as a circular, socially responsible, and economical alternative, supporting the preservation of a traditional craft through the employment of local weavers for its ongoing maintenance.
Inspired by Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace, the pavilion combines material efficiency with craftsmanship, demonstrating how low-carbon materials and local skills can inform more humane and resilient construction practices.
Following the festival, the structure was relocated to a permanent site, extending its life beyond the temporary installation.
Location: London, UK
Date: 2023
Client: London Festival of Architecture
In collaboration with: WebbYates Engineers & Xylotek
Supported by: PIVETEAUBOIS, Gang-Nail/ITW Construction Products and HUB
