25 June 2012
In 2000, the Serpentine Gallery in London inaugurated the tradition of the annual pavilion: its design commissioned from an architect of international standing, the temporary structure stands in front of the gallery’s entrance, in Kensington Gardens, over the period from May to October. In 2012, the 12th year in which the pavilion has been built, but above all that of the Olympic Games in London, the Serpentine has chosen the designers of the Olympic stadium in Beijing, Herzog & de Meuron and the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. Their pavilion retraces the hidden history of the 11 previous pavilions: a floating platform roof rests on 12 columns (one for each of the buildings), outlining a covered space, excavated in the ground. A journey into the foundations of our memory, an “archeological” approach that digs simultaneously into the earth and into the past. It would be worth going to London to see the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion alone, but if you want to make the most of your trip you could time it to coincide with the London Design Festival (September 14-23) or 100% Design (September 19-22), which seems to be in top form this year. The 2012 Pavilion will remain open until October 14.
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei.
© Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei. Photo: © 2012 Iwan Baan
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei.
© Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei. Photo: © 2012 Iwan Baan
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei.
© Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei. Photo: © 2012 John Offenbach
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei.
© Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei. Photo: © 2012 John Offenbach
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei.
© Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei. Photo: © 2012 Luke Hayes
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei.
© Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei. Photo: © 2012 Luke Hayes
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron & Ai Weiwei.
© 2012, by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron & Ai Weiwei.
© 2012, by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei.
Jacques Herzog (left) and Pierre de Meuron. Herzog & de Meuron. © 2011, Marco Grob
Ai Weiwei. © Ai Weiwei.