There is a particular magic that arrives in Kensington Gardens each summer, when a temporary structure appears beside the Serpentine Gallery and becomes, for a few short months, one of London’s most captivating destinations. Since Zaha Hadid’s inaugural pavilion in 2000, the Serpentine Pavilion has become architecture’s great annual experiment, inviting internationally renowned architects who have yet to complete a permanent building in England to realise an ambitious design at full scale, free for everyone to experience.
Over the years, Frank Gehry, Peter Zumthor, Rem Koolhaas and Toyo Ito have each brought their own vision to the commission, creating structures in timber, cork, steel, glass and woven materials. Every pavilion is entirely unique, proving there is no single way to create remarkable architecture.
This year marks the Pavilion’s 25th anniversary, and it is celebrated with ‘A Serpentine’ by Mexico City studio LANZA Atelier. A graceful wall, just one brick thick, gently winds its way across the lawn, inspired by the historic English crinkle-crankle wall. This ingenious eighteenth-century construction uses sweeping curves, rather than buttresses, to achieve remarkable strength with surprisingly little brick. It is a thoughtful tribute to English garden craftsmanship, reimagined through a distinctly Mexican perspective.
Brick columns support a delicate translucent canopy that filters the sunlight into shifting patterns of shade, while the winding walls encourage visitors to pause, wander and gather. The pavilion feels both understated and poetic, demonstrating how humble materials can create architecture rich in warmth, rhythm and delight.
Just beyond the pavilion is another reason to linger. Venezuelan kinetic artist Jesús Rafael Soto’s installation features 4,000 vibrant yellow strands suspended from a steel frame, inviting visitors to walk directly through them. As you move, the strands sway, shimmer and part, transforming the work from something to observe into something to experience. Soto believed art should be completed through movement, and this immersive installation beautifully dissolves the boundaries between sculpture, space and visitor.
There is no better time to enjoy Kensington Gardens than during the summer months, when art, architecture and nature come together in one of London’s most inspiring settings. Happy exploring!