The annual commission of the Serpentine Pavilion is an internationally respected event in the architectural calendar. A Capsule in Time was designed by architect Marina Tabassum and her firm Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA). It is the sixteenth Serpentine Pavilion we have delivered.
A timber structure consisting of four modules, the Pavilion was presented in an elongated form designed around a Gingko tree at its heart. The structure was 11 metres wide, 31 metres long and 8.2 metres high, each main structural glulam timber beam measured 100mm wide and 600mm deep.
More than 600 polycarbonate panels were installed between the timbers, secured by bespoke frames fabricated in our metal shop. The frames angled each panel to a minimum of seven degrees to ensure rain run-off in wet weather.
The polycarbonate panels themselves had a translucent film applied, an assortment of five elegant hues that played with the light as it changed throughout the day.
A central keystone defined the two end sections of the structure, each a staggered two-ring centre fabricated with metal fishplates. These were suspended mid-air by scaffolding, then the timbers lifted into position by crane and fixed by our team.
Of the two centre modules, one was kinetic, mounted upon a concealed track and actuated hydraulically left and right, allowing the centre section to butt against the end section. This provided a larger water-tight footprint at the north end of the Pavilion.
It was Marina Tabassum’s desire that the Pavilion would ultimately be re-purposed as a library; consequently, the inner perimeter featured timber units to provide seating and shelving for this intention.
“The strong form combined with the kinetic dimension made this a very special pavilion. Its design was striking and deliberate and was a joy to work on.” Tim Leigh, Chief Creative Officer
See the history of the Serpentine Pavilions here
