„A Capsule in Time“ by Marina Tabassum

The 24th Serpentine Pavilion will open on 6 June 2025 in Serpentine South, Kensington Gardens, London. Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum and her firm, Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA), are responsible for this year's design. “A Capsule in Time” aims to stimulate a dialogue between the permanence and transience of the commission.

Marina Tabassum, © Asif Salman

“When conceiving our design, we reflected on the transient nature of the commission which appears to us as a capsule of memory and time. The relationship between time and architecture is intriguing: between permanence and impermanence, of birth, age and ruin; architecture aspires to outlive time. Architecture is a tool to live behind legacies, fulfilling the inherent human desire for continuity beyond life." explains Marina Tabassum.

A translucent facade creates an interplay of light and shadow inside. © Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA), Foto: Iwan Baan, Courtesy Serpentine

For her design, Tabassum drew inspiration from South Asian architecture and arched garden roofs that filter soft daylight through green foliage. Shamiyana tents, which are traditional canopies or awnings used for ceremonies and celebrations, also served as a model. The Serpentine Pavilion is an elongated structure resembling a capsule. It consists of a barrel roof divided into four wooden sections. A translucent facade scatters incoming light, causing it to shimmer inside. One of the sections can be moved using a kinetic element, transforming the pavilion into a new space.

The capsule-shaped pavilion extends along the north-south axis of the park. © Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA), Foto: Iwan Baan, Courtesy Serpentine

The Serpentine Pavilion runs along the north-south axis of the park. The central courtyard, planted with trees, lies on the same axis as the bell tower of the Serpentine South Gallery. The pavilion's open design invites visitors to explore the park and offers them the opportunity to connect with one another quickly. “A Capsule in Time” will be open to the public from 6 June to 26 October 2025. The programme will be complemented by live events such as music, film, dance and theatre performances, readings, discussions and presentations from the fields of fashion and technology.