Serpentine Pavilion
London, United Kingdom · 2017
Photo · Iwan Baan
A precedent for temporary public pavilions, demonstrating how an inverted timber canopy and textured, modular screen walls can define an inviting, illuminated gathering space within a park setting.
- What we like about this project
- The perimeter walls are completely detached from the roof structure, acting as windbreaks and spatial definers rather than load-bearing elements.
Materials
- timber
- steel
- polycarbonate
- concrete
Visual identifiers
- inverted-canopy
- timber-slats
- blue-textured-walls
- steel-space-frame
- serpentine-pavilion
Style tags
- expressive-structure
- contemporary
- organic-modernism
Visual tags
- pavilion
- temporary-architecture
- canopy
- gathering-space
- wood-construction
- public-space
- Geometry
- A circular pavilion featuring a central, inverted conical canopy supported by a delicate steel space-frame matrix, surrounded by detached, curved perimeter walls with a triangular-patterned texture.
- Facade system
- Detached, modular screen walls composed of stacked, triangular timber blocks.
- Structural guess
- Central steel columns arranged in a circular cluster, supporting a cantilevered timber and steel roof truss system.
- Spatial scale
- A single-story public pavilion scaled for small gatherings, nestled comfortably within a park clearing.
- Lighting
- Warm, integrated uplighting illuminates the underside of the wooden canopy, contrasting with the cool, deep blue twilight sky.
- Atmosphere
- A warm, glowing sanctuary nestled in a cool twilight parkland.
- Environmental context
- Situated within a manicured public park surrounded by mature trees and gravel pedestrian pathways.
- Spatial experience
- The open-air structure draws visitors inward under a wide, sheltering timber canopy that funnels down to a central open courtyard, creating a sense of collective gathering and shelter.
- Composition rhythm
- The repeating triangular modules of the blue walls create a jagged, rhythmic texture that contrasts with the radiating lines of the overhead timber canopy.
- Style reading
- Expressive structural regionalism
- Program
- Temporary cultural pavilion and public gathering space
- Perspective
- Aerial/Site
- Discipline
- architecture
- Materials
- timber, steel, polycarbonate, concrete
- Visual identifiers
- inverted-canopy, timber-slats, blue-textured-walls, steel-space-frame, serpentine-pavilion
- Style tags
- expressive-structure, contemporary, organic-modernism
- Visual tags
- pavilion, temporary-architecture, canopy, gathering-space, wood-construction, public-space
- Geometry
- A circular pavilion featuring a central, inverted conical canopy supported by a delicate steel space-frame matrix, surrounded by detached, curved perimeter walls with a triangular-patterned texture.
- Facade system
- Detached, modular screen walls composed of stacked, triangular timber blocks.
- Structural guess
- Central steel columns arranged in a circular cluster, supporting a cantilevered timber and steel roof truss system.
- Spatial scale
- A single-story public pavilion scaled for small gatherings, nestled comfortably within a park clearing.
- Lighting
- Warm, integrated uplighting illuminates the underside of the wooden canopy, contrasting with the cool, deep blue twilight sky.
- Atmosphere
- A warm, glowing sanctuary nestled in a cool twilight parkland.
- Environmental context
- Situated within a manicured public park surrounded by mature trees and gravel pedestrian pathways.
- Spatial experience
- The open-air structure draws visitors inward under a wide, sheltering timber canopy that funnels down to a central open courtyard, creating a sense of collective gathering and shelter.
- Composition rhythm
- The repeating triangular modules of the blue walls create a jagged, rhythmic texture that contrasts with the radiating lines of the overhead timber canopy.
- Style reading
- Expressive structural regionalism
- Program
- Temporary cultural pavilion and public gathering space
- Perspective
- Aerial/Site
- Discipline
- architecture