Comments on: Serpentine Gallery Pavilion by SANAA (more images)

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:53:44 +0000

A lot of people comparing Sanaa’s pavillion with Niemeyer’s Ibirapuera marquise( built in the 40’s). Actually a similar solution for a similar challenge: dwelling from the sun, rain, while integrating with a beautiful surrounding park… The diference here appears to be not only the scale but also the approach to the biefing itself. Ibirapuera marquise is enormous, when compared to Sanna’s pavillion – when you are under it, you feel quite protected, but also separated from the park (it has always intrigued me a lot) – the park looks like far away and, moreover, framed by the concrete structure – the so persued by modern architecture “integration” with nature, kind of say – “ok, nature is beautiful but lets keep it outside”, or “nature is beautiful, lets frame it then..”. and that’s exactly what Sanaa’s pavillion will not do. It is basically the same solution, but the 21st century approach for the “integration with nature” issue is quite different… it will hardly protect those bellow it from the usual bad weather of the londoner summer, and will still play with your senses, by creating reflections, distorted images, etc kind of borrowing the real trees, moan, and even the real visitors to create a new virtual, untangible park experience.
Simplicity, purity, etc has always linked the work of Niemeyer to those of japanese and maybe, scandinavian architects and designers. The great goal of this year’s pavillion in my oppinion, is to show up such kind of architecture in Europe today, when most of the architects are depply seduced by the personalism, this strange ego trip and the media need of creating star architects, star designers, star musicians, star chefs, star dogs, stars, stars, stars…. when the true architecture is actually more than that, or lets say it better, architecture is less than that.

By: Jame Mark Pinotes

Jame Mark Pinotes — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:20:06 +0000

Very cool….the roof are like air

By: Paulo

Paulo — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:37:48 +0000

It’s like they have been using the same formula from their last projects. Slim structure, plain type of roof, rounded,…

By: MAX

MAX — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:41:10 +0000

!!!!!!!!!
I think they are a little bit overhauled.
I’ve saw a lot of their project…nice images when in the magazine but in real…

By: Tiago

Tiago — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:08:36 +0000

It has already been done!!! Just google “Niemeyer parque ibirapuera”
Although this is a more contemporary design, it will work.
It would be much better in a sunny region
This way it works as reflected floor-ceiling sort of ambient…

By: jh

jh — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:17:57 +0000

i can’t believe they are casting a 20cm concrete slab all the way on the grass of the park.. wasn’t this supposed to be a light and temporary structure?

By: MIRTEC

*MIRTEC* — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:49:48 +0000

a huge reflecting umbrella ella ella…
a fine one though…

By: tanya telford - T

tanya telford - T — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:55:37 +0000

this is actually something i try to visit every year, i think because i have always enjoyed the location – in a park – trees & grass etc. in the centre of a vibrant city, with the possibility of walking – inside and out, around etc. a new architectural structure/pavilion and then being able to go and look at some art. From these imagines im imaging one of the nice things about it will be the play of light and reflection of trees and leaves etc, i could be wrong but i think it could be beautiful in quite a subtle way.

By: BRK

BRK — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:37:13 +0000

haters – are we looking at the same post? this pavilion is up there with the Ito pavilion from back in the days. Floating/ephemeral is the hardest trick in the book – and I cant think of anyone better at pulling it off

By: laru

laru — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:55:13 +0000

go look at OIII.com – they have some actual construction photos in a running diary. my skepticism has been muted a bit by seeing those – it might be right behind siza’s as the best so far (at least for being my cup of tea).
http://www.0lll.com/archgallery2/sanaa_serpentine-09/index.htm