Since 2000, the Serpentine Gallery Pavilions have annually invited an architect to construct a piece for the grounds. For the 15th anniversary, Spanish duo Selgascano were selected, becoming the first Spanish architects to design for the Pavilion. José Selgas and Lucía Cano join the illustrious ranks of Frank Gehry (2008) Ai Weiwei (2012, with Herzog and de Meuron), Jean Nouvel (2010), and more who have made their mark on the Kensington Gardens grounds. They previously designed the Merida Factory Youth Movement, a youth center in Merida, Spain and “El B”, Cartagena Auditorium and Congress Center, a cultural center in Cartagena, Spain.
In their spin on the Serpentine Pavilion, Selgascano created a brightly colored, chrysalis-like structure that is illuminated by natural light during the day and artificial light at night. Made of polymer, the insides are almost like modern-day stained glass windows, and were designed with the visitors in mind – “We sought a way to allow the public to experience architecture through simple elements: structure, light, transparency, shadows, lightness, form, sensitivity, change, surprise, color and materials,” the duo said. In the nature of keeping it organic and flowing with the gardens, the structure features several entrances and exits so that visitors can make it their own. A seating area and cafe can be found inside, so visitors can relax and take in the structure with leisure. The structure will be on view from June 25 – to October 18, 2015, at the Serpentine Galleries Pavilion in Kensington Gardens, London.
