The 2012 pavilion at the Serpentine Gallery by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei photography by Iwan Baan

The annual temporary commission in Kensington Gardens has inspired similar experimental structures overseas.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of London’s Serpentine Pavilion, an annual commission that has spearheaded a global trend for small-scale architecture. This movement is grassroots-orientated; upcoming designers build experimental structures to be enjoyed in public spaces without charge. In turn, a passion for architecture is nurtured and a legacy created that should last longer than the structures themselves.London’s Serpentine Pavilion, the forerunner of this movement, is one of the top 10 most-visited design exhibitions in the world: each year 300,000 people visit the installation during its three-month lifespan. The pavilion is sold at the end of the season, usually to a private collector, with the sale making up about 40 per cent of its total cost.......Continue Reading

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