This year’s Serpentine Pavilion is designed by Francis Kéré

This summer sees the return of the Serpentine Pavilion, a temporary structure in Kensington Gardens. Every year, the Serpentine Gallery invites an international architect to create a pavilion in their grounds. Now in its 17th year, the opening of the Pavilion has become a big event on the London art scene. This year, the structure has been created by Francis Kéré from Burkina Faso.

Kéré, whose practice is based in Berlin, has sought inspiration from a meeting point tree in his hometown of Gando. Inside the pavilion, the steel centre and expansive wooden roof makes you feel like you’re under the shade of a tree. The walls of the pavilion – blue expanses of timber triangles, allow air to circulate freely through the space. Within the pavilion is a pop-up café serving light food and drinks. On Wednesday lunchtimes throughout July and August, there will be community picnic talks.

• The Serpentine Pavilion is open from now until 8 October 2017. Kensington Gardens, Kensington, W2 3XA. Nearest stations: Lancaster Gate, Knightsbridge or South Kensington. Open daily from 10am-6pm. Free entry. For more information, visit the Serpentine Gallery website.

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For a guide to what else is on in London in October, click here.

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