Selgascano Serpentine Pavilion 2015 London

A colourful semi-transparent structure appeared a few weeks ago in the gardens of London’s Serpentine Gallery: the temporary pavilion designed by a different architect or architectural studio every year to host the summer events organised by the London museum. The 15th pavilion was designed by Spanish architectural studio Selgascano, confirming its vocation as a place for architectural experimentation which has attracted big names on the international architectural scene such as Zaha Hadid (2000), Peter Zumthor (2011), Frank Gehry (2008), Rem Koolhaas and Cecil Balmond, with Arup, (2006), Oscar Niemeyer (2003), and Daniel Libeskind with Arup (2001).

The pavilion designed by Spanish architects José Selgas and Lucía Cano of Selgascano is an amorphous structure containing a coffee shop. Its double skin is made up of opaque and translucent coloured panels of ETFE (Ethylene TetrafluoroEthylene), a corrosion-resistant polymer containing fluoride which is used to cover big surfaces and stadiums.
The architects invite visitors to an experience of architecture based on a number of key elements: structure, light, transparency, shadows, lightness, shape, sensitivity, change, surprise, colour and materials.
The experience is made possible only by entering the pavilion, and it changes depending on which entrance and itinerary is taken.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Dates: June 25 – October 18 2015
Design: Selgascano (José Selgas + Lucía Cano)
Location: London, UK
Images courtesy of Serpentine Pavilion, photo by Iwan Baan, Naaro, Jim Stephenson

www.selgascano.net
www.serpentinegalleries.org

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