The Serpentine Pavilion of 2024 was designed by Seoul-based Korean architect Minsuk Cho and his firm Mass Studies.
The Archipelagic Void is a multi-faceted timber construction. Five ‘islands’, each structure unique in size, form, name and purpose, converge to create a central open space. This void is a representation of a madang, a small courtyard found in old Korean houses.
A concept rich in tradition, it is contemporary in appearance. We countersunk fixings and fitted timber plugs to provide the structure with clean lines.. We creatively manufactured joints to enhance its visual appearance. Its modern colour palette breaks down black stained timber façades with bright orange and pink hues.
To build a pavilion in a little over seven weeks takes resilience, determination and skill. The programme is relentless and requires meticulous planning, preparation, manufacture and construction.
The timber material was sourced from UK-grown Douglas Fir trees felled specifically for the project; the natural variation in size and shape of the tree required the timber to be cut to size. We carried out a test build here at Stage One for all parties to assess the technical specification, the processes employed, and the design aesthetic prior to manufacture.
On site the islands were built as individual structures, brought together with a steel halo to delineate the central void, five component pieces welded together to create the eight-meter diameter. Marking out of the structures was a critical phase in the process and required utmost precision for the build to be successful.
Paving was laid for the islands and resin bound gravel for the void, and whilst the void remained an open space, the islands were fitted with tensile PVC roofing to provide shelter and a barrier to precipitation.
At seven metres high, the Play Tower is an imposing structure with layers of bright orange play netting for visitors to climb and explore, the flooring rubber chip for safety and to soften the surroundings. Intended to host public gathering the Auditorium is the largest and most complex structure, the beams and rafters of the high open ceiling braced by a complex assembly of black steel rods.
From engineering to manufacture to build, our teams bring an abundance of knowledge, skill and expertise to this project and have transformed the Serpentine Pavilion from render into reality for the last fifteen years.
View our Serpentine legacy here
