The 2023 Serpentine Pavilion is a gathering space "for exchange and celebration." The design speaks to the need for authentic building connections in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the throws of the digital age. Located in London's Kensington Garden, the gathering space pavilion will open to the public on June 9th. The piece was designed by the French-Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh.
The structure of this year's pavilion employs timber as the main material and boasts an intricate silhouette that piques curiosity. When designing the piece, the architect drew inspiration from the silhouettes of tree leaves and more notably, the microscopic image of a leaf. A "concentric table" is located inside the structure, encouraging people to gather around it. This is why Lina Ghotmeh names the 2023 Serpentine Pavilion 'À table.'
Sculptural Timber Gathering Spaces
Lina Ghotmeh Designs the 2023 Serpentine Pavilion
Trend Themes
1. Timber Gathering Pavilions - Designing gathering spaces with an emphasis on natural materials such as timber and promoting sustainability and nature-inspired design.
2. Authentic Building Connections - Creating social spaces that emphasize human connections and encourage interactivity, in response to the isolation brought on by COVID-19 and growing dependence on digital communication.
3. Microscopic-inspired Architecture - Drawing inspiration from the natural world at a microscopic level to design intricate and visually striking structures that reflect the beauty of nature.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture Design - The construction and design of innovative gathering spaces using natural materials to encourage social connections for post-COVID-19 events.
2. Urban Planning - Designing public spaces and city architecture to promote human connections and interaction, using nature-inspired design to create unique and beautiful cityscapes.
3. Sustainability - Incorporating sustainable practices in building design, construction, and materials to promote environmental conservation and reduce carbon footprint.