Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012, by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei

Serpentine gallery roof which holds a small pool of water surrounded with green grass, trees and people
Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei's Serpentine Gallery is topped by roof that holds a shallow pool of rainwater and hovers 1.4m above ground.
(Image credit: Photography: Iwan Baan)

The Serpentine Gallery's annual Pavilion is a staple of the capital's summer architecture calendar and it rarely disappoints. Combining space for events, a shelter from the summer sun, an oasis of relaxation and thought-provoking design, it has over the years taken the shape of a helium balloon, a super-bright red steel structure and a mysterious hidden garden. It is also always designed by an exceptional contemporary architect, one that has yet to complete their first built work in London, making this temporary structure a much-anticipated architectural happening.  

In many respects this year's commission is special. To start with, the people behind it have actually already had a strong presence in London; albeit not as a team. Swiss practice Herzog & de Meuron are the architects of much-celebrated projects such as the Tate Modern conversion (and now, its addition), while their partner, Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, saw his hotly-discussed Sunflower Seeds show open at the Tate's Turbine Hall in 2010.

Herzog & de Meuron and Weiwei have worked together to great acclaim before on the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games but this is their first collaborative UK venture. And it seems fitting that their new project should open just in time for the 2012 Games in London.

'Every year, architects impatiently and jealously wait for the announcement of the Pavilion,' said Jacques Herzog at the opening. 'Working with Ai Weiwei again makes it even more intriguing'. Meanwhile, Weiwei made his presence felt at the launch with a video statement. 'As an artist, I am always very interested to put art, design, architecture and social change together to make new possibilities,' he said.

Given the team's combined reputation for innovation and creativity, it is no surprise that they flipped the pavilion concept on its head. Instead of creating a fully-fledged new structure, the team's design puts the focus on the previous pavilions, in a near-archaeological fashion.

In a quest to 'uncover' the former pavilions' foundations, the ground was dug up to form a geography of patterns, low walls and steps that the visitors can explore - and sit on. The whole surface is covered in cork, enhancing the space's acoustics, as well as giving a tactile quality (and distinct aroma) to the interior. Above the excavation are 12 columns (one representing each pavilion, including the 2012 one) that support a large floating platform roof. It hovers 1.4m above ground and holds a shallow pool of rainwater.

Taking the visitor below ground level and within the intriguingly sculptural landscape of the excavation, Herzog & de Meuron and Weiwei's design acts as an homage to the Serpentine's whole Pavilion program, inviting the crowds to discover the hidden footprints of the new structure's predecessors.  

Structure in the Serpentine Gallery garden with a ground level roof and steps and walls dug into the ground

Beneath this, the team's design takes on a near-archeological fashion. In their quest to 'uncover' the former pavilion's foundations, the ground was dug up to form a geography of patterns, low walls and steps that visitors can explore...

(Image credit: press)

Structure dug into the garden at the Serpentine Gallery with metal roof and cork covered floors and steps

... and sit on. The whole surface is covered in cork, enhancing the space's acoustics, as well as giving a tactile quality (and distinct aroma) to the interior

(Image credit: press)

Interior of structure in garden of Serpentine Gallery with cork covered seats, steps and floors

Above the excavation are 12 columns (one representing each pavilion, including the 2012 one) that support the platform roof

(Image credit: press)

Close up of exterior of structure at Serpentine Gallery with metal roof filled with water and cork covered steps and walls

Taking the visitor below ground level and within the intriguingly sculptural landscape of the excavation, Herzog & de Meuron and Weiwei's design acts as an homage to the Serpentine's whole Pavilion program

(Image credit: press)

Colourful architectural sketch of a circular structure

A sketch of the structure by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei

(Image credit: press)

Architectural sketch of the interior of a cork covered structure with multiple levels

A sketch of the structure by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei

(Image credit: press)

Architectural drawing of a structure with a water filled roof over cork covered walls and floors

A sketch of the structure by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei

(Image credit: press)

ADDRESS

Serpentine Gallery
Kensington Gardens
London W2 3XA

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Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).