The pavilion isn't really a building, but rather a mirror reflecting the manicured hedges and gnarled trees of Kensington Gardens, its canopies stretching far into the park. The intense reflections on the gleaming aluminium surface blur the boundaries between the built environment and the reflected surroundings to an almost unsettling degree. It's amusing to watch the many visitors searching for their reflection in the ceiling; some even bump into their neighbors in the process. The crowds that flock here on a sunny Sunday don't disturb the tranquil and sensual atmosphere of the place. This is surely also due to the building's understated design: only a small coffee bar caters to commercial needs, which can be met on the small, colorful wooden chairs, also designed by SANAA. These chairs are arranged haphazardly on the concrete floor, which traces the shape of the roof and is bordered in places by white gravel. Small ornamental trees, some in large terracotta pots, others planted directly in the ground, grow from the white gravel, clearly recalling the Japanese origins of the designers. A space for events has been created beneath part of the roof. Here, curved acrylic glass panels, set back from the roof, separate the interior and exterior. Unfortunately, the emergency exit signs required for any public building, as well as the loudspeakers suspended from the columns, clash with the dissolving architecture and therefore stand out all the more. Nevertheless, SANAA has created a gem with this year's summer pavilion – a welcome change after Frank Gehry's clunky work last year. Following Daniel Libeskind (2001), Toyo Ito (2002), Oscar Niemeyer (2003), Alvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura (2005), Rem Koolhaas (2006) and Olafur Eliasson with Kjetil Thorsen (2007), this year's pavilion is now the ninth that the Serpentine Gallery has erected on its grounds with the help of sponsorship money.
A key criterion in selecting the architects is that they have not yet designed a building in the United Kingdom. The Serpentine Gallery aims to bring ambitious world-class architecture to London and make it accessible to everyone. With this approach, the gallery not only promotes the fame of the individual architects but also fosters an interest in architecture among the general public – a plan that works, as the pavilion enjoys enormous popularity every year; 250,000 visitors are expected this summer. In October, the shimmering cloud-like structure will be dismantled and auctioned off to the highest bidder.
