SANAA architects create a dreamlike canopy of shiny aluminium that seems to float between the trees.

Project description

Julia Peyton-Jones, director of the Serpentine Gallery, describes this year’s summer pavilion as a ‘dream come true’ – and there is definitely something dreamlike about the structure. Architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of Japanese practice SANAA have created an undulating canopy of shimmering aluminium, a giant puddle of metal that appears to float between the trees of Hyde Park.

As is the tradition with the Serpentine’s summer pavilions, the commission gives a well respected foreign practice its UK debut. SANAA is well known for pioneering architecture that fuses aesthetic simplicity with technical complexity. This can be seen in buildings such as the Louvre-Lens Museum in France and the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, but the summer pavilion is the practice’s first structure to be built in the UK.

Peyton-Jones says: ‘Kazuyo Sejima’s and Ryue Nishizawa’s design embraces the parkland around the Serpentine Gallery as never before with an extraordinarily innovative design, It reveals the subtle play on light and perception that is so characteristic of their work.’

The architects, who collaborated with design and engineering company Arup and developer Stanhope to build the pavilion, describe it as ‘a sheltered extension of the park where people can read, relax and enjoy lovely summer days’.

The pavilion contains separate spaces for a cafe and an auditorium, where the gallery’s programme of Park Nights events – which include talks by artists, film screenings and the Serpentine Gallery Poetry Marathon – will be presented.

There is no budget for the Serpentine Gallery pavilion commission. Each year, the project is paid for by sponsorship – which raises approximately 60 per cent of the funds – and the sale of the finished structure. This is the ninth annual Serpentine summer pavilion and it will be open until 18 October.

The lead sponsor of this year’s pavilion is Netjets Europe and others include Vitra and Perspex Distribution. Arup was the adviser.