Oscar Niemeyer’s design for the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2003 was both simple and ingenious.
Built in steel, aluminium, concrete and glass, the Pavilion’s ruby-red ramp contrasted with the surprise of a partly submerged auditorium, affording views across the park. It also housed specially conceived wall drawings by Niemeyer. The Pavilion conformed to Niemeyer’s principle that every project must be capable of summary in a simple ‘sketch’ and that once the support structure is finished the architecture should be more or less complete.
‘Imagine Garbo or Sinatra in their prime, and performing now. With this week’s opening of the 2003 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, just such a time-warping miracle is taking place’ –Evening Standard
From the architectural Pavilion and digital commissions to the ideas Marathons and research-led initiatives, explore our past projects and exhibitions.
