The Serpentine Gallery has selected Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh to design the 22nd Pavilion. The project is supported by Goldman Sachs for the ninth consecutive year and has been unveiled at Serpentine South.
Since its inception in 2000 with Dame Zaha Hadid, the Pavilion has showcased completed structures by renowned architects and emerging talents, serving as a public platform for experimental and interdisciplinary programs at the Serpentine. Ghotmeh’s practice focuses on projects that integrate architecture, art, and design on a global scale. Her approach involves comprehensive research on location history, typology, materials, resources, and user habits, with a consideration of social conditions and environments.
The 22nd Pavilion, titled “À Table,” will continue Ghotmeh’s practice of “Archaeology of the Future” by exploring memory, space, and landscape through her personal methodology. The design draws inspiration from nature, emphasizing unity and community through its structure and an organic table-like design that encourages human interactions. Ghotmeh sees the table as a symbol of dialogue and a means to reconnect with nature and the Earth.
The Pavilion will provide a space for people to gather, eat, work, play, meet, and discuss. It is built using bio-sourced and low-carbon materials, with sustainably sourced timber ribs supporting a suspended pleated roof. The Pavilion’s design echoes the forms found in tree leaves and draws inspiration from the Toguna huts of the Dogon people in Mali, promoting togetherness and unity. The structure can be disassembled and reassembled, allowing it to have a life beyond its original Serpentine site.
Bettina Karek, Chief Executive, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director of Serpentine, express their excitement about Ghotmeh’s design, which reflects the park’s natural surroundings in Kensington Gardens. They highlight the Pavilion’s mission of connecting architecture and society, promoting unity, and its focus on sustainability. Ghotmeh’s design aims to minimize the carbon footprint and environmental impact, aligning with Serpentine’s sustainability policy.
The 22nd Pavilion by Lina Ghotmeh embodies the principles of unity, sustainability, and a harmonious relationship with nature. It represents an opportunity for people to come together, engage in dialogue, and rethink their connections to the Earth and each other.
About Lina Ghotmeh
Lina Ghotmeh, a Lebanese architect, has undertaken notable projects such as the Estonian National Museum, ‘Stone Garden’ in Beirut, and the ‘Réalimenter Masséna’ tower in Paris, all recognized for their architectural excellence. Ghotmeh’s involvement extends beyond her designs; she lectures globally and holds prestigious positions such as the Louis I Khan Visiting Professor at Yale and the Gehry Chair at the University of Toronto. She has received multiple awards, including the Schelling Architecture Prize and the Tamayouz ‘Woman of Outstanding Achievement.’ Her work has been exhibited internationally and featured in prominent publications. She is currently the program director for the Fondation d’Entreprise Hermes’ Skills Academy and led the design of the Hermès Leather Workshops in Normandy.
Location: Serpentine Pavilion, London, UK.
Duration: 9 June – 29 October 2023