Regent’s Canal and its resident swans provide a picturesque setting for The Proud Archivist – a multi-purpose café/gallery which owes much to the coffee houses of centuries past. With a whole lot of glass fronting the premises in London’s Haggerston, designed by Studio Tilt, visitors get maximum chance to watch the world go by outside, but inside there’s even more to see.
Split over two levels, the downstairs is dominated by the open kitchen and bar opening out onto the towpath. As the venue grows, the double-level library wall will add a feast for the eyes with art and photography displays. The upstairs level is a mezzanine arrangement, which gives an impressive sense of space and light. Speaking of light, The Proud Archivist can be justifiably proud of having the largest lightbox in the capital – the full-length, steel-framed feature is lit by 33 giant fluorescent tubes and will serve as an enviable exhibition display as well as further illuminating the venue. Studio Tilt‘s use of wood is a key element at The Proud Archivist; spruce has been used for the bookshelves, the floor is reclaimed mahogany, and it’s all brought together by the untreated larch fins angling across the ceiling.
Photography, Jill Tate
