Serpentine Pavilion 2026: Wavy Brick Design Revealed
The Serpentine Pavilion program, a quarter-century tradition of erecting temporary architectural installations at the Serpentine South gallery, announces its 2026 design, aptly named ‘a serpentine'. Developed by Mexican architecture practice LANZA Atelier, this year's structure is a captivating blend of historical ingenuity and natural inspiration, set to open to the public from June 6 to October 25, 2026.
The defining feature of the pavilion is its south wall, which reinterprets the ancient sinusoidal ‘crinkle-crankle' wall. This ingenious, thrifty method of constructing strong, wavy walls, historically prevalent in Suffolk and with roots stretching back to ancient Egypt, lends the pavilion its distinctive serpentine form. Built from red brick, the material choice is described as being “in dialogue” with the existing gallery building, fostering a sense of architectural continuity. Complementing this, the pavilion's north wall is designed to curve fluidly, engaging with the surrounding landscape and the canopy of nearby trees, drawing further inspiration from the adjacent Serpentine lake.
Internally, ‘a serpentine' is conceived as an inviting public space. Architectural mock-ups reveal an irregularly shaped courtyard, providing ample areas for visitors to sit, relax, and engage with the environment. A brise soleil roof, supported by slender brick columns, will offer essential shade and contribute to the structure's aesthetic appeal. This free-to-explore installation serves as a significant cultural amenity, inviting a broad audience to experience contemporary architectural innovation in a public park setting. The article does not specify any risks inherent to the 2026 design; however, it contextualizes the pavilion's history by noting the singular instance in 2004 when MVRDV's ambitious artificial mountain project failed to materialize, a concept that later informed the notorious Marble Arch Mound. LANZA Atelier's ‘a serpentine' is presented as a thoughtful and engaging addition to this esteemed annual series.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/art-and-photography/serpentine-pavilion-serpentine-2026)
