NLÉ architects and asif khan among architects to reveal serpentine summer houses

NLÉ architects and asif khan among architects to reveal serpentine summer houses
image © barkow leibinger

unveiled at the same time as this year’s serpentine pavilion design by bjarke ingels group (BIG), four other architects have been commissioned to present their version of a summer house/folly. the expanded program intends to introduce contemporary architecture to a wider audience with the design of a summer house which references a classical building by queen caroline’s temple which was erected in 1734 (also in hyde park). each of the four chosen architects: barkow leibinger, kunlé adeyemi (NLE), yona friedman and asif khan have revealed initial images of their interpretation.

see our previous coverage of the serpentine pavilion here.

barkow leibinger’s design sees a series of curving bands forming an overhead canopy
image © barkow leibinger

the berlin-based architects – barkow leibinger’s design sees an open-structure featuring a series of undulating structural bands reminiscent of a continuous line drawing. creating a tree-like canopy over visitors, the plywood and timber structure will intrinsically connect with its surroundings and the looping geometrical concept.

kunlé adeyemi’s design will have spaces carved out to invite people to sit, eat and socialize
image © NLÉ

NLÉ led by kunlé adeyemi’s response will be a structure showing an inverse replica of the traditional queen’s caroline’s temple. paying homage to the space, material and the robust form, adeyemi’s design uses prefabricated building blocks made of sandstone to create a room, doorway and window for visitor’s to interact with.

paying tribute to queen’s caroline’s temple, the design is an inverse of the historic folly
image © NLÉ

yona friedman’s flexible scheme is made to be assembled, dissembled and easily transportable
image © aecom

yona friedman’s modular structure explores versatility with metal rings of 1.80 meter diameter assembled to form a skeleton, space-chain frame. with the option to be assembled and disassembled in different formations and compositions.

image © asif khan

asif khan’s summer house design is based on a polished metal platform and conceived as a tea house. offering a different perspective and experience of the park and surrounding landscape, there will be three spaces of contrasting spatial quality and articulated by an undulating line of timber staves. meanwhile, a path of stepping stones will subtly lead visitors into the interior.

image © asif khan

queen caroline’s temple, kensington gardens, london
image © garry knight

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