African architect is latest to be invited to construct a pavilion since programme began in 2000
This year鈥檚 Serpentine Pavilion in London鈥檚 Kensington Gardens by Berlin-based architect Di茅b茅do Francis K茅r茅 opens today (23 June).
The K茅r茅 Architecture principal, who was born in the west African country of Burkina Faso, becomes the latest architect invited to construct a pavilion since the programme began in 2000.
Francis K茅r茅 said his design was inspired by the tree that serves as the central meeting point in his hometown of Gando, where the architect built a primary school that won the 2004 Aga Khan award for architecture. His design features an expansive wooden roof supported by a central steel framework with wood walls, and aims to offer shade on sunny days as well as protection from the rain.
The Serpentine Gallery said the structure鈥檚 oculus would funnel rainwater from the roof to create a 鈥渟pectacular鈥� waterfall effect, before it was collected to irrigate the surrounding park. Aecom was engineer on the scheme.
K茅r茅鈥檚 selection for the 2017 pavilion follows Bjarke Ingels Group鈥檚 鈥渦nzipped wall鈥� structure, which was visited by 250,000 people in 2016. Other previous pavilion architects include Zaha Hadid, Oscar Niemeyer, Frank Gehry, and Herzog & de Meuron with Ai Weiwei.
The architect was chosen for the pavilion by a panel including Serpentine artistic director Hans-Ulrich Orbist, chief executive Yana Peel, along with architects Richard Rogers and David Adjaye.
This year鈥檚 pavilion commission is the first not to be overseen by programme founder Julia Peyton-Jones, who stepped down as gallery director in 2016.
It will be open to the public until 8 October.
To read Ike Ijeh鈥檚 comment piece on the Serpentine Pavilion click .
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