Blog Archives

A wall of colour amongst the green | The London Mastaba on the Serpentine

Serpentine Pavilion 2017: Seek shelter under a canopy of triangles

Serpentine summer houses: Explore four very different structures in Kensington Gardens

Serpentine Pavilion 2016: A pyramid of bulging bricks by Bjarke Ingels

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2015: A tunnel of colour by Selgascano

© Memoirs Of A Metro Girl 2015

This year’s Serpentine Pavilion is designed by Selgascano, headed by José Selgas and Lucía Cano

It’s that time of year again – when an international architect is invited to design a temporary structure in the grounds of the Serpentine Gallery. Now in its 15th year, the opening of the Pavilion has become a big event on the London art scene. This year, the structure has been created by Spanish architects Selgascano – headed by José Selgas and Lucía Cano, who have been inspired by the London Underground. They follow in the footsteps of past architects who have created Pavilions for the Gallery, including Jean Nouvel, Frank Gehry, Oscar Niemeyer, Sou Fujimoto and Smiljan Radić. The Pavilion will stand on the lawn outside the Serpentine Gallery over the summer.

© Memoirs Of A Metro Girl 2015

The Selgascano Pavilion is the 15th to stand on the site

This year’s creation is a polygonal tunnel of colour, which can be entered from different points. It also includes a secret corridor joining the inner and outer layers of the structure. As the light is diffused through the coloured panels, it gives a stained glass effect. Inside is a café serving Fortnum & Mason sandwiches, salads, cakes and pastries.

  • The Serpentine Pavilion is open from now until 18 October 2015. Free to visit, but also contains a café inside. Open 10am-6pm. Serpentine Pavilion, Kensington Gardens, Kensington, W2 3XA. Nearest tube: Lancaster Gate, Knightsbridge or South Kensington. For more information, visit the Serpentine Gallery website.
© Memoirs Of A Metro Girl 2015

The light streaming through the structure gives a stained glass effect


For Metro Girl’s post on last year’s Pavilion, click here.

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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Photo Friday | Smiljan Radić’s Serpentine Pavilion

© Memoirs Of A Metro Girl 2014

Smiljan Radić’s Serpentine Pavilion is open until 19 October 2014

I haven’t done a photo post in a while, but thought I’d do a short post with a photo of the Serpentine Pavilion, which is only open for another few weeks before it leaves London forever. Every year, the Serpentine gallery in Kensington Gardens invites an architect to design a temporary structure outside the building for the summer.

Open since late June, this year’s Pavilion is the 14th and has been designed by Chilean architect Smiljan Radić. The Pavilion is a semi-translucent shell-like structure propped up on quarry stones. It has been compared to a giant rock or spaceship due to its wide span of metallic-looking material. The temporary building includes a café inside, giving visitors a chance to enter and interact with the Pavilion.

  • The Pavilion is located in Kensington Gardens, just outside the Serpentine Gallery, Kensington W2 3XA. Nearest tube: Lancaster Gate, Knightsbridge or South Kensington. The gallery is free to enter and is open daily from 10am-6pm. The Pavilion remains open daily until 19 October 2014. For more information, visit the Serpentine Gallery website.

For a post on last year’s Pavilion, read Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013: Sou Fujimoto lights up Kensington Gardens with his airy, lattice creation.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013: Sou Fujimoto lights up Kensington Gardens with his airy, lattice creation