Kéré’s Pavilion opens

Conceived as a micro cosmos within Kensington Gardens, seeking to connect its visitors to nature, the 17th Serpentine Pavilion designed by Francis Kéré opens today in London.

Francis Kéré, Serpentine Pavilion 2017, London. Photo © Iwan Baan

“The proposed design for the 2017 Serpentine Pavilion is conceived as a micro cosmos – a community structure within Kensington Gardens that fuses cultural references of my home country Burkina Faso with experimental construction techniques” – explains Diébédo Francis Kéré, award-winning architect from Gando, Burkina Faso, 17th architect to design the summer temporary pavilion for the Serpentine Galleries at Kensington Gardens.

Francis Kéré, Serpentine Pavilion 2017, London — In the Serpentine Pavilion by Francis Kéré wooden shading elements line the underside of the roof to create a dynamic shadow effect on the interior spaces

My experience of growing up in a remote desert village has instilled a strong awareness of the social, sustainable, and cultural implications of design. I believe that architecture has the power to, surprise, unite, and inspire all while mediating important aspects such as community, ecology and economy. In Burkina Faso, the tree is a place where people gather together, where everyday activities play out under the shade of its branches. My design for the Serpentine Pavilion has a great over-hanging roof canopy made of steel and a transparent skin covering the structure, which allows sunlight to enter the space while also protecting it from the rain.

Wooden shading elements line the underside of the roof to create a dynamic shadow effect on the interior spaces. This combination of features promotes a sense of freedom and community; like the shade of the tree branches, the Pavilion becomes a place where people can gather and share their daily experiences. Fundamental to my architecture is a sense of openness. In the Pavilion this is achieved by the wall system, which is comprised of prefabricated wooden blocks assembled into triangular modules with slight gaps, or apertures, between them. This gives a lightness and transparency to the building enclosure. The composition of the curved walls is split into four elements, creating four different access points to the Pavilion. Detached from the roof canopy, these elements allow air to circulate freely throughout. At the centre of the Pavilion is a large opening in the canopy, creating an immediate connection to nature.

In times of rain, the roof becomes a funnel channelling water into the heart of the structure. This rain collection acts symbolically, highlighting water as a fundamental resource for human survival and prosperity. In the evening, the canopy becomes a source of illumination. Wall perforations will give glimpses of movement and activity inside the pavilion to those outside. In my home village of Gando (Burkina Faso), it is always easy to locate a celebration at night by climbing to higher ground and searching for the source of light in the surrounding darkness. This small light becomes larger as more and more people arrive to join the event. In this way the Pavilion will become a beacon of light, a symbol of storytelling and togetherness.

23 June – 8 October 2017
Serpentine Pavilion 2017
Kensington Gardens, London
Architect: Francis Kéré
Project architect: Blake Willwock
Design team: Adriana Arteaga, Greta Nina Tescari, Andrea Maretto, Jaime Herraiz Martinez, Johanna Lehmann, Damien Greder, Valeria Molinari, Laura Bornet
Site area: 541 sqm
Gross internal area: 162.5 sqm

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