The Serpentine Pavilion, a summer staple in Kensington Gardens, has long been a canvas for architectural experimentation. But this year, Lanza Atelier, a Mexico City-based studio, has taken a step back to the basics, quite literally. Their design, a crinkle-crankle wall, is a nod to the pavilion's history and a refreshing take on a familiar material: brick. Personally, I think this is a brilliant move, as it challenges the notion that brick is too mundane or permanent for temporary structures. What makes this particularly fascinating is the way Lanza Atelier has reinterpreted the crinkle-crankle wall, a design element that has been around for centuries, from the Fens in rural Suffolk to ancient Egypt. In my opinion, this is a brilliant example of how architecture can be both innovative and respectful of tradition. Lanza Atelier's design is a testament to the power of simplicity and the beauty of the ordinary. The crinkle-crankle wall, with its wavy, serpentine form, is a delightful onomatopoeia, a design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. From my perspective, this is a brilliant way to reframe a maligned structure, like the wall on the US/Mexico border. Lanza Atelier's pavilion is a gathering place, a series of little rooms, and a structure that attracts instead of divides. The concept of 'gentle geometry' is a fascinating one, and it's a great example of how architecture can be continually responsive to those who move through it. The design originated from understanding the common limits of the site, with the building line set around the curves of existing tree canopies. This is a brilliant way to connect the pavilion to its surroundings, and it's a design that is both thoughtful and innovative. The undulating form also alludes to the Serpentine pond, a clever way to create a sense of unity between the pavilion and the park. The structure is topped by a flat glass roof, a simple yet effective design element that provides shade and a sense of openness. The use of brick is a surprising twist, as it's the first time it has been employed in the Serpentine Pavilion. The bricks, manufactured in Surrey, are a standard size, but their ordinariness is subtly transformed by Lanza's design. The bricks are set without mortar joints, threaded through reinforcing bars, and set back to front, ribbed sides out, creating a textured surface that resembles a woven textile. This is a brilliant way to add interest to a familiar material, and it's a design that sparks curiosity and makes people enjoy the pavilion more. Lanza Atelier's wiggly brick walls are a nod to the weathered red brickwork of the neighbouring Serpentine South Gallery and the wider South Kensington milieu. The use of brick is a brilliant way to connect the pavilion to its surroundings, and it's a design that is both thoughtful and innovative. The quote from Frank Lloyd Wright, 'Do you know what a brick is? A brick is a small, ordinary, worthless thing that costs 11 cents, but give me a brick and it becomes worth its weight in gold,' is a brilliant way to encapsulate the power of simplicity and the beauty of the ordinary. Arienzo agrees, and I couldn't agree more. A brick is nothing very sophisticated, but once you see it laid down or built in a different way, it sparks curiosity and makes people enjoy it more. After 25 years, it seems only right that brick's Serpentine time has finally come. Lanza Atelier's design is a brilliant example of how architecture can be both innovative and respectful of tradition, and it's a design that is sure to leave a lasting impression on visitors to Kensington Gardens.
