junya ishigami to design 2019 serpentine pavilion in london

junya ishigami has been selected to design the serpentine pavilion 2019 — the temporary structure erected each year in london’s hyde park. the japanese architect, celebrated for his experimental structures that interpret traditional architectural conventions and reflect natural phenomena, worked as an architect at SANAA before founding his own firm in 2004. winner of the golden lion at the 2010 venice architecture biennale, he was the subject of a major and critically acclaimed solo exhibition at the fondation cartier pour l’art contemporain in 2018.

the interior of the 2019 serpentine pavilion will form an enclosed cave-like space
image © junya ishigami + associates

junya ishigami’s design for the 2019 serpentine pavilion takes inspiration from roofs, the most common architectural feature used around the world. the design is made by arranging slates to create a single canopy roof that appears to emerge from the ground of the surrounding park. within, the interior of the pavilion is an enclosed cave-like space, a refuge for contemplation. for ishigami, the pavilion articulates his ‘free space’ philosophy in which he seeks harmony between man-made structures and those that already exist in nature.

slates will be used to create a single canopy roof that appears to emerge from the ground
image © junya ishigami + associates

‘my design for the pavilion plays with our perspectives of the built environment against the backdrop of a natural landscape, emphasizing a natural and organic feel as though it had grown out of the lawn, resembling a hill made out of rocks,’ explains junya ishigami. ‘this is an attempt to supplement traditional architecture with modern methodologies and concepts, to create in this place an expanse of scenery like never seen before. possessing the weighty presence of slate roofs seen around the world, and simultaneously appearing so light it could blow away in the breeze, the cluster of scattered rock levitates, like a billowing piece of fabric.’

junya ishigami, 11th venice architectural biennale, japanese pavilion, 2008
image © junya ishigami + associates

ishigami is the 19th architect to accept the invitation to design a temporary pavilion on the serpentine gallery’s lawn in kensington gardens. this pioneering commission, which began in 2000 with zaha hadid, has presented the first UK structures by some of the biggest names in international architecture. in recent years it has grown into a highly-anticipated showcase for emerging talent, from frida escobedo of mexico to francis kéré of burkina faso and bjarke ingels of denmark, whose 2016 pavilion was the most visited architectural and design exhibition in the world. the 2019 serpentine pavilion will open on june 20 and remain in hyde park until october 6, 2019.

junya ishigami, KAIT workshop, kanagawa institute of technology, japan, 2008
image © junya ishigami + associates

project info:

design: junya ishigami + associates
technical advisor: david glover
engineering and all technical services: AECOM
creative services: stage one
headline sponsor: goldman sachs