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Article from issue 9/2006 »Konzept Museums«

"This is no Balloon" - The Serpentine-Pavillon of Rem Koolhaas and Cecil Balmond

report p. 924 - 924
Architect Balmond, Cecil | Koolhaas, Rem | Author Kaltenbach, Frank |

In London’s Kensington Park a 24 metre-high construction raises itself above the axis of the classicistic Serpentine Gallery. The annual Serpentine Garden Pavilion, which will be in place until 15th October, is a balloon-like structure set upon two concentric circular pedestals of polycarbonate panels. Conceived as a “no pavilion” by Rem Koolhaas, it is intended to be markedly different from its forerunners; the upper helium-filled, balloon type structure is egg-shaped - an intentional deformation of the pure spherical form. The balloon rests on four steel columns which are interconnected by a ring beam at a height of five metres. Held only by ropes, the balloon is able to climb a further four metres above the ring beam, enabling the lush green tree tops to be visible between it and the translucent walls of the base structure.