Andy Matthews Studio's black timber cricket pavilion on Dulwich Common, London

Community sports clubs, Andy Matthews points out, often make do with rudimentary buildings or converted shipping containers. His studio's new pavilion for Streatham & Marlborough Cricket Club, overlooking the main pitch on Dulwich Common in south London, sets out to show that a tight budget can still buy a generous, light-filled room built for its site.

The idea starts with the classic white, pitched-roof pavilion and turns it inside out. The roof is split into two mono-pitches whose extended eaves form canopies over the entrances, and the walls are clad in black Japanese burnt larch, set off by a white clock face. Matthews hopes the dark timber lets it read as though it has always been there, like the old willow nearby. It is built from mass timber and is 100 square metres smaller than the building it replaced.

Inside, the clubroom has full-height sliding glass on two sides, giving views of both pitches, with a sheltered spot under the canopy for watching. Changing rooms open straight onto the field, their benches angled towards play. The room is also meant for hire, for christenings, weddings, wakes, yoga and community meetings, so the rent covers its upkeep.

Worth a look if you're walking near Dulwich, or a model for any club planning a new home.

Our summary of a story from Dezeen, published 14 October 2026. Read the original