Hyde Park’s Serpentine Gallery has shown off the latest in its annual temporary pavilions — an unzipped triangular cathedral.
Constructed from large bricks, made from extruded fibreglass frames, the aim is to create a cave-light space, which is lit through the frames.
The design is by Bjarke Ingels’ firm BIG.
“We have attempted to design a structure that embodies multiple aspects that are often perceived as opposites: a structure that is free-form yet rigorous, modular yet sculptural, both transparent and opaque, both solid box and blob,” said Ingels.
“This unzipping of the wall turns the line into a surface, transforming the wall into a space,” he added. “At the top, the wall appears like a straight line, while at the bottom, it forms a sheltered valley at the entrance of the pavilion and an undulating hillside towards the park.”
Despite all the architects talk about lines and spaces through – the 2016 pavilion reminds me far more of a rather famous parish church in Iceland.
