The Serpentine Pavilion 2017 / Francis Kéré

It's that time of year again when we are all excited to see the year's Serpentine Pavilion... and this year it is designed by Diébédo Francis Kéré, an award-winning architect from Gando, Burkina Faso. 

Inspired by trees, where in Kéré's home town of Gando, are places where people often gather under for shade in the heat, creating a social gathering. Kéré saw this as an opportunity for visitors to engage with nature through a transformation of spatial changes.

Before you enter the pavilion, you are already surrounded by the greenery and trees in Kensington gardens, and as you walk inside, the striking indigo-blue walls comprised of triangular blocks are layered with intended apertures, diffuses the light, and give a sense of lightness. The four curved entrances, allows the freedom of circulation like the wind. 

Kéré wanted the visitor to connect with nature at all times, hence the over-hanging roof canopy is covered with a transparent skin, which allows the visitor to connect with the sky, and allowing sunlight to enter whilst protecting it from the rain. The underlying wooden shading elements under the roof creates dynamic shadow effects.  

The temperamental weather in Britain proves not to be a challenge for Francis Kéré, whom is from a hot climate country. His pavilion design is responsive. In times of rain, the roof becomes a funnel channelling water into the heart of the structure. This rain collection acts symbolically, highlighting water as a fundamental resource for human survival and prosperity.

You can read more here.

The pavilion will be from 26th June till 8th October! Visit now when the sun is still out!