Silecroft Beach Cafe

Konishi Gaffney Architects’ new Cumbrian beachfront café in the Lake District National Park celebrates the rugged beauty of its coastal setting. Perched alongside the only beach within the Lake District, the new facility enjoys breathtaking views across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man and the imposing presence of Black Combe Fell.

Notable for its striking interior - dominated by an exposed timber roof - and external shutters designed with Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Boyce, the café is a significant addition to the region's tourism infrastructure.

The Silecroft Beach Café aims to enrich the region's tourism offer. In addition to the café, the facility includes a visitor hub that celebrates the broader attractions of the Lake District. The hub caters to a diverse array of beachgoers, from coastal path walkers to water sports enthusiasts and also features a Changing Places accessible toilet.

The project, won through a national architectural competition in 2019, draws inspiration from the region's traditional whitewashed seaside cottages.

The splayed plan creates two sheltered courtyards - one facing east towards the fell, the other facing west to the sea. This arrangement provides respite from the area's often-harsh weather conditions, allowing year-round enjoyment of the stunning natural landscape.

Internally, the exposed timber roof, made from large-section Douglas Fir timber fins, not only add visual interest but also celebrate the building's structural expression.

The robust, weather-resistant material palette - including a slate roof, white render, and black steel shutters - provides a contemporary take on the local vernacular.

The practice collaborated closely with Boyce on the exterior, which saw the artist apply a distinctive pattern motif to the intricate, marine grade shutters.

"Konishi Gaffney's winning design for the Silecroft Beach Café beautifully captures the raw beauty of this iconic Lake District setting," said Jane Taylor of Cumberland Council, the project’s client. "By creating a sustainable, all-weather destination that celebrates the local environment, the design team have delivered a facility that will enrich the experience of visitors to this remarkable coastline."