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The Serpentine Pavilion 2017, designed by Burkinabe Architect
Diébédo Francis Kéré, own photographs. |
This years structure has been commisioned by Kéré, the 17th Architect to do so. In previous years pavilions have been designed by BIG, Sou Fujimoto, Herzog and de Meuron, Peter Zumthor and Jean Nouvel. The pavilions are erected every summer outside the Serpentine Gallery.
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The pavilion is an oval form reminiscent of a tree,
with a blue wall enclosing the space beneath it |
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The rich tone of the blue and the lightness of the timber sets itself in contrast
against the backdrop of the brick wall of the Serpentine gallery |
The design is based around the idea of a village tree, it offers a place of gathering and shelter. Kéré refers to his native in his design in the colours he chooses as well as the form. The pavilion is enclosed by a blue wall, blue being a colour traditionally worn by young men when meeting prospective wives in Kéré's village of Gando, Burkina Faso. He chose blue as a nod to this tradition, "I wanted to present myself, my architecture, in blue - it is a great place, and if you have the chance to do something like I did here you come with your best colour, you show yourself from your best side. This is indigo blue".
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A sea of blue encompasses this communal space, interior photograph of the pavilion.
The light floods through the tunnel at the centre of the structure. |
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| The pavilion is constructed with blue stained wood, it is arranged in triangular panels. The panels are arranged to create a decorative pattern. Natural light travels through the perforations in the walls and lights up the central space. |
The pavilion is intentionally different from every angle, although it seems circular, there are many views to explore and it is worth a visit!
