The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2008 will give London its first example of Frank Gehry's stunning architecture.

The highly articulated structure - designed and engineered in collaboration with Arup - comprises large timber planks and multiple glass planes that soar and swoop at different angles to create a dramatic multi-dimensional space.

Part-ampitheatre, part-promenade, these seemingly random elements will make a transformative place for reflection and relaxation by day, and discussion and performance by night.

Frank Gehry, designer of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, said: "The Pavilion is designed as a wooden timber structure that acts as an urban street running from the park to the existing Gallery. Inside the Pavilion, glass canopies are hung from the wooden structure to protect the interior from wind and rain and provide for shade during sunny days.

"The Pavilion is much like an ampitheatre, designed to serve as a place for live events, music, performance, discussion and debate. As the visitor walks through the Pavilion they have access to terraced seating on both sides of the urban street."

Five elevated seating pods around the perimeter of the Pavilion act as visual markers enclosing the street and can be used as stages, private viewing platforms and dining areas.

Every year since 2000, the Serpentine asks an architect or artist to put up a provisional structure. It is a fully accessible public space in the Royal Park of Kensington Gardens, attracting up to 250,000 visitors every summer and is
accompanied by a programme of talks and seminars.

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:36:39 +0000