Thanks to its innovative and sustainable design approach, Diébédo Francis Kéré will be the curator of the Serpentine Pavilion 2017 edition, the architectural temporary hub promoted by the Serpentine Galleries, which this year will remain in the heart of Kensington Garden in London from June 23 to October 8.
Starting from the shape of a tree, symbol of the hub of his hometown Gando in Burkina Faso, the architect - head of the Berlin practice Kéré Architecture since 2005 - has designed a versatile pavilion that aims at promoting a dialogue among its visitors and the surrounding nature, besides their mutual interaction. A canopy, supported by a steel structure, resembles the shrub crown, enabling the free circulation of air in the area below and offering shelter both from summer heat and rain.
The project includes four different entry points and an open-air courtyard in the middle, where visitors can sit and relax during sunny days, while in case of bad weather an innovative floor drainage system will mop up rainwater storing it to irrigate the park. The visual appearance will be ensured night and day thanks to a play of light and shadows resulting from the wooden slats and small holes in the walls.
The seventeenth pavilion - following the “unzipped wall” presented by BIG in 2016 - will be as usual venue of cultural events and talks, especially on current issues and community rights, in line with the social commitment of Kéré and his core activity in African countries.