Due to popular demand, it’s been announced that the 2017 Serpentine Pavilion will now remain open for an additional six weeks, until 19th November.
For the fifth year running, AECOM, in collaboration with David Glover, delivered technical advisory services for the Pavilion, including structural and civil engineering, fire engineering, electrical engineering and lighting design. Diébédo Francis Kéré, the award-winning architect from Gando, Burkina Faso, designed this year’s Pavilion, responding to the brief with a bold, innovative structure that brings his characteristic sense of light and life to the lawns of Kensington Gardens.
The architect’s vision is one of community and connecting people together with nature. This is reflected in the exposed canopy structure engineered by AECOM, and use of a simple palette of tactile traditional materials that encourages visitors to engage with them.
For Kéré, it is important the Pavilion becomes a beacon of light at night. AECOM worked closely with the architect and contractor, Stage One, to create visualisations of the final designs, allowing AECOM’s engineers to envisage the mood and ambience from multiple points of view to craft a subtle and inviting glow. Daylight streams into and through the structure during the day, while at night artificial lights reverse the process, flowing out of the structure and inviting people to come and visit.
Only four materials were used to build the Pavilion – steel, timber, concrete and polycarbonate – to create a light, exposed structure. Each material was engineered down to a minimum, with every detail requiring close attention. Each component was carefully aligned and refined to create a neat simplicity that belies the complex elliptical geometry of the structure.
Jon Leach, Director, AECOM, said: “The unique programme for the Serpentine Pavilion necessitates that the role of engineer is central to the creative process. Knowledge of materials and fabrication methods, as well as the planning and Building Control approval processes, are required to transform the design into functional and buildable spaces without losing sight of the original architectural or artistic vision. It is marvelous that the design will continue to be enjoyed by visitors during the extended period.”
Amy Koerbel, Regional Director, commented: “This year’s programme has been ambitious as always and the hard work has really paid off. It is wonderful to see the space being enjoyed and admired by so many visitors this summer. I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue to show guests this fantastic structure over the next few months and I am excited to see how the lighting design – Francis’ vision of the beacon – will feature more and more as the days become shorter.”
For more information and images, please click here: https://aecom.com/serpentine-pavilion-2017/
