Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2008, Kensington Gardens- London

Architect	Frank Gehry
Date Built	2008
Location	The Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London
Description
Each year since 2000 the Serpentine Gallery has been commissioning the design and construction of a pavilion in the vicinity of the gallery. These temporary structures have been designed by architects with international reputations. In reverse order they have been: Olafur Eliasson and Kjetil Thorsen, 2007; Rem Koolhaas and Cecil Balmond, with Arup, 2006; Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura with Cecil Balmond, Arup, 2005; MVRDV with Arup, 2004 (un-realised); Oscar Niemeyer, 2003; Toyo Ito with Arup, 2002; Daniel Libeskind with Arup, 2001; and Zaha Hadid, 2000. Frank Gehry's pavilion occupied the gallery's lawn between July 20th and October 19th in 2008. At the time it was the first project built in England by Gehry. The gallery says that, "The spectacular structure – designed and engineered in collaboration with Arup – was anchored by four massive steel columns and was comprised of large timber planks and a complex network of overlapping glass planes that created a dramatic, multi-dimensional space. Gehry and his team took inspiration for this year’s Pavilion from a fascinating variety of sources including the elaborate wooden catapults designed by Leonardo da Vinci as well as the striped walls of summer beach huts. Part-amphitheatre, part-promenade, these seemingly random elements make a transformative place for reflection and relaxation by day, and discussion and performance by night."