Shaw Cafe: A Lily Pad in the Park

Located in historic Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, the Shaw Cafe, named after the garden's founder, is inspired by the site's historic greenhouses. Elements of the structure, including the roof pitch and building orientation, is emulated from the greenhouses, which date back to 1913. Shaw Cafe emulates the historic form and utilizes glass as both roof and wall, blurring the boundary between interior and exterior. A trellis is situated on the roof to aid in filtering light into the cafe during the harsh summer season, while also serving as a growing medium. The outdoor seating area, oriented towards the lily ponds, features a raised water garden that serves as a bench and emulated the shape of Shaw's ponds. The entire cafe and its patio space is sunk into the earth, becoming a lily pad within the topography and furthering the sense of tranquility and escape within a dense urban environment.