With its hydraulically moving outer skin, this pavilion by Berlin-based firm Magma Architecture is a visible sign of revitalisation in the Warrior Square Gardens in Southend on Sea, UK.

Set to be completed in June of this year, the pavilion commissioned by the local council will function as a kiosk and cafe and act as a connective element between the surrounding built environment and the garden within which it stands.

The angular shape mimics the lines of nearby historic Victorian houses, which, together with the square itself, form a listed area, but the roof of this pavilion conceals a pretty high-tech secret.

A second skin made of anodized aluminum stretch metal opens hydraulically and thereby makes the kiosk an attraction. This second skin covers the modern café building and mediates between the historic environment and the new urbanity which takes the form of a nearby bustling high street.

Opened, the skin is a sun shade, and at night it can be used as projection screen, allowing the the Warrior Square Gardens to be used as a venue for multimedia events. When closed, it protects the café building and constitutes a lit element in the park, increasing safety.