The first images of this year’s “crinkle crankle” Serpentine Pavilion have been released as the annual summer party in Kensington Gardens approaches.
The temporary brick structure which snakes around the gardens will be a must-visit for Londoners this summer as it becomes a showcase for fashion, music, theatre, and dance.
The 25th pavilion was designed by Mexico City-based architects LANZA atelier and references a traditional English brick wall - known as a “crinkle crankle” or serpentine wall, also echoing the Hyde Park lake which shares the same name.
The one-brick deep wall pays tribute to British historic use of brick as a cheap, industrial material, but also nods to Latin American masonry.
The main structure features a winding brick wall, while a second space with a transparent roof has been built as the main hub for this summer’s programme.
Designers Isabel Abascal and Alessando Arienzo explained that the wall features small gaps “to be able to see movement behind the wall through the gaps, like kids running or wind blowing the trees.”
In memory of Zaha Hadid, who designed the first Serpentine Pavilion in 2000, a two-day event in her honour will be held inside the structure by her namesake foundation.
The winding wall was entirely funded by private donations and will be free when it opens to the public on June 5.
The invitation-only exclusive Serpentine Summer Party on June 23 will see Emmy-award winning actress Salma Hayek Pinault, filmmakers Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu host the Serpentine's biggest annual fundraiser.
The event ensures that exhibitions and projects at The Serpentine remain free and open to all.
The Serpentine Pavilion is open from June 6 - October 25, Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA, serpentinegalleries.org
