Every architect strives to uphold themselves amidst the competitive world through their design virtue. Holding to the fundamentals of design, they develop a deep thought process to achieve the solution. The approach to a design may vary depending on the way of thinking, but the resulting design will reflect their practice, culture, learning, and persistence through the years.
Also, it is inappropriate to say that a design problem can have only one solution. A space can be reimagined and interpreted in numerous ways providing different outputs. Evidently, this idea forms the basics of every competitive design platform.
Serpentine Pavilion
One such internationally renowned platform for showcasing excellence in architecture is the Serpentine Pavilion. Amidst the challenging design problems in the field, Serpentine Pavilion bestows potential and renowned architects with an opportunity to design a temporary structure, since its launch in 2000. The commissioned pavilion is kept for public visits for three months in Kensington Gardens, UK. The place holds the portrayal of two decades of architectural experimentation. Every year architects come up with their masterpieces reflecting their roots and exploring materials and vernacular techniques.
Francis Kere – Vision of Microcosmos
Diebedo Francis Kere, a Berlin-Based architect from Burkina Faso, known for his innovative and sustainable works with a collaborative nature, was commissioned to design the 17th edition of Serpentine Pavilion in the year 2017. Whether it is the design of a village school or a parliament building his works are always rooted and follow the concepts of sustainability. It is intriguing to understand the vision of Kere in the development of the concept for the Serpentine Pavilion. Embracing a meeting space, a cafe, and a flexible environment, the design of the pavilion provides the onlookers with a captivating experience.
Holding a mastery in building with clay and community, his approach to the design of a contemporary pavilion was astonishing. Born in a village called Gando, which had no electricity, hard access to drinking water, and no education, his determination brought an identity to his community. He has designed the pavilion as a reflection of his community, inspired by the great tree in his village. Situated in the heart of the village, the tree is a part of everyday life for the community. Any time of the day, the tree houses a group of people, from children playing to elders having a conversation. Sometimes, it becomes a school or a small hospital for vaccination campaigns. It is filled with energy and bolsters the sense of community. Kere wanted to bring this spirit of culture into the design of the pavilion.
Design of Kere’s Serpentine Pavilion
Apparently simulated from the great tree, the overhanging roof canopy is covered by transparent skin supported by a branching steel structure shading the entire pavilion and contributing to the longevity of the structure. The underside of the roof is lined with wooden shading elements providing a lively shadow play aligned with the movement of sun and clouds. The entire roof spans to the overall footprint of the pavilion allowing sunlight to pass through at the same time protecting it from rain.
Spread around the entire space, there is a large opening in the centre connecting with the sky.
The canopy acts as a funnel-like structure that ends in the opening in the centre, where the rainwater gets collected. Collecting rainwater through the canopy and channelling it in the centre of the pavilion conveys a critical message that water is a vital resource for human life. Also incorporates the concept of sustainability in every structure he builds. The roof and the walls remain disconnected enhancing the air circulation and connection with nature.
While designing the wall system, he went for prefabricated wooden blocks with patterned apertures forming triangular modules repeatedly creating speckled shadow effects. It breaks the entire mass into four fragments turning each into an access point supporting different functions. The perforations in the wall give lightness and transparency to the structure.
In the dim twilight, one can witness the gleaming source of illumination through the perforations twinkling as people move inside. The pavilion provides a flexible environment for all groups of people to gather, contemplate, and relax. It had a play area for kids and some walls had seating facing inwards for people to have a conversation while others facing outside had a nice view of the garden. It also had a cafeteria making the pavilion a wholesome experience. Obviously, the colour indigo is chosen as it is the colour of celebration in his village.
As a holistic experience, Kere has utterly brought a sense of community in the design paying a tribute to the great tree in his village. It was a cutting-edge design having cultural references met with experimentation in construction techniques. Embracing the ever-changing climate of London, the pavilion has been designed innovatively. From shading the space during summer days to channelling rain into a waterfall effect and collecting it in the centre to irrigate the park, the design appropriately engaged the environment. Kere also mentioned that he was able to see the same scenario from his village happening in the pavilion and that’s how his vision transformed into reality.
References:
- Arquitectura viva. “Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2017.” 2017, https://arquitecturaviva.com/works/pabellon-serpentine-gallery-9.
- Kere Architecture. “Serpentine Pavilion.” 2017, https://www.kerearchitecture.com/work/design/serpentine-pavilion.
- Serpentine Galleries. “Serpentine Pavilion 2017 by Francis Kéré.” 2017, https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/whats-on/serpentine-pavilion-2017-designed-francis-kere/.
