Canary Wharf Group asked us to design two retail kiosks for their 97-acre estate in London’s Docklands. They had to be durable, easy to maintain, and vandalism-proof, and their style had to match the bold, bright and contemporary public art on site.
Inspired by origami, we created a striking geometric design that’s both stylish and resilient. Plywood-stressed skin and waterproof membranes stretch across steel frames, while insulating rain-skin cladding panels reduce solar gain. The kiosks harness steel counterweights to pull up external aluminium panels concertina-style, revealing the adaptable space inside.
Since opening in 2014, the kiosks have hosted arts hubs, food stalls, pop-up retailers and more. Their interiors can be adapted to suit a range of vendors, and Canary Wharf Group can easily move them around the estate to activate different spaces.
Lightweight and portable, the two kiosks were delivered pre-assembled, and installed without foundations. Their attention-grabbing sculptural design complements the nearby restaurants, shops, and public art.
Kiosk part 1: Concept
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F01%2FCWK_Make-2.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=212&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=a0be54aa1366fdd085ce835beaca728e 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F01%2FCWK_Make-2.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=425&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=049f734d1658cead3da06062a1ba0f39 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F01%2FCWK_Make-2.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=777&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=0828b5c85073045c1cd83ec7d7cc8028 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F01%2FCWK_Make-2.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1036&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=c42e3885563b48fbfe095d0a43f546f4 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F01%2FCWK_Make-2.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1416&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=b3e90beb5ae608282086649049eb1e52 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F01%2FCWK_Make-2.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1618&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=1e776e7b1cc0fdd56dde283fa617b4d8 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F01%2FCWK_Make-2.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1942&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=2bd519646baa996a381b20080b2b2712 1920w)
It’s fantastic to see the kiosks on site being used and enjoyed by the public, and adding vibrancy and character to Canary Wharf.
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Kiosk part 2: Prototype
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FCanary-Wharf_3_web.png?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=94&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=38fd0c6e0efa5bb3ad1334f62d3e78fa 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FCanary-Wharf_3_web.png?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=188&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=42ae1ef0adf23fc0963bacad416f92c4 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FCanary-Wharf_3_web.png?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=344&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=75b02fff89b772b46cb0103416e20aaf 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FCanary-Wharf_3_web.png?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=458&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=fa9edf42a9f68bb3d5be320fb2496d86 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FCanary-Wharf_3_web.png?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=626&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=b1da7464a3f611ffae25afe794618bd7 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FCanary-Wharf_3_web.png?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=716&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=e4a0839a4c8b09a405ca9fb87834423e 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FCanary-Wharf_3_web.png?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=859&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=1e3be5bddf3f5e3a4be78ddddb9a4bd3 1920w)