Serpentine Pavilion 2026

An excellent iteration of this annual pavilion at the Serpentine Gallery by LANZA atelier.

This year's pavilion was built of brick with a glass roof, shaded by blinds. The central rounded space had a long curving wall down one side with a path along it which made me think the construction had a tail. The i
nside had a small stage and the usual expensive café but otherwise the space was quite empty which I liked. Some years the space is cluttered by suggestions of things you should do there.

Reading the blurb I loved the layers to the work. LANZA atelier, founded by Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo described the work as a serpentine partly as a pun on the gallery's name and the nearby lake but also referencing the architectural feature called a serpentine or crinkle-crankle wall which originated in ancient Egypt. The shape provides stability via lateral support and requires fewer bricks than a straight wall.

As ever it was a peaceful space to have a coffee and read for a while.

Closes 25 October 2026 

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