Considering food as an expression of care, the Pavilion’s design by
Lina Ghotmeh is a space for grounding and reflection on our relationship to land, nature, and the environment. By offering a moment of conviviality around a table, Ghotmeh welcomes us to share the ideas, concerns, joys, dissatisfactions, responsibilities, traditions, cultural memories, and histories that bring us together.
Ghotmeh defines her approach to architecture as an ‘Archaeology of the Future’. Built predominantly from bio-sourced and low-carbon materials. The form of the Pavilion responds to the shape of the park’s tree canopies. Internal wooden beams that encircle the perimeter of the structure emerge as thin tree trunks and the fretwork panels that sit between the beams feature plant-like cut-out patterns, aiding ventilation and allowing natural light to come in.
The Pavilion’s pleated roof is inspired by the structure of a palm leaf, while the lightwell in the middle furthers the space’s integration with its setting. The modest, low roof takes inspiration from
togunas: structures found in Mali, West Africa, that are traditionally used for community gatherings to discuss current issues, and also offer shade and relief from the heat. The low-lying roofs of these structures encourage people to remain seated peacefully and take pause throughout discussions.
Serpentine Pavilion 2023 designed by Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture. Photograph by Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Serpentine.
A new soundscape for the Pavilion has been created by artist and composer Tarek Atoui, based on
Lina Ghotmeh’s sketches, architectural materials, and Atoui’s ongoing research on classical and rural Arab music. You can listen to the ‘Dawn chorus’ by Jad and Tarek Atoui, featuring Berber chants by the choir of Othman Azolid (Ouarzazat, Morocco), on Serpentine’s guide on Bloomberg Connects.
In a new collaboration with The Conran Shop,
Lina Ghotmeh has designed two new exclusive pieces of furniture for this year's Pavilion. Celebrating nature and conviviality, the tables and stools dress the interior of the structure. Crafted from oak, with a dark-red finish, the 25 tables and 57 stools come together to complete a ceremonial display inside the Pavilion.
In her proposal,
Ghotmeh also honors the history of the Serpentine South building, which was originally a teahouse. Designed by James Grey West, the building opened in 1934 and was converted into an art gallery in 1970. In the summer months until the early 1960s, the café’s seating area also expanded to the lawn, which the Pavilion now occupies. Inspired by this history, Ghotmeh incorporated the Pavilion’s café menu into her design process, offering Mediterranean-inspired dishes made with local and seasonal ingredients.
Serpentine Pavilion 2023 designed by Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture. Photograph by Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Serpentine.
An accompanying catalog, designed by Paris-based studio Les Graphiquants, will feature contributions by Ali Cherri, Beatriz Colomina, Bernard Comment, Fouad Elkoury, Simone Fatal, and David Zilber. It will also include a comprehensive conversation between Hans Ulrich Obrist and Lina Ghotmeh. The book will be co-published by Serpentine and Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König, Köln, and will be available from August 2023.
