The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2008 will be the first Frank Gehry structure to grace London, and the first images of the proposal have just been released.
The multi-faceted design incorporates timber and glass panes that create a dramatic randomness. Inside, the building will be a place for reflection and relaxation, doubling as a discussion and performance space at night. Marking the ninth year of the Serpentine’s Pavilion series, it will be designed and engineered in collaboration with Arup.
Gehry commented, “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 the sunny days. The Pavilion is much like an amphitheater, designed to serve as place for live events, performance, discussion and debate. As the visitor walks through the Pavilion they have access to terraced seating on both sides of the urban street. In addition to the terraced seating there are five elevated seating pods, which are accessed around the perimeter of the Pavilion. These pods serve as visual markers enclosing the street and can be used as stages, private viewing platforms and dining areas.”
