The Floating Cloud…Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013
Designed by Sou Fujimoto, © Sou Fujimoto Architects
Image © 2013 Iwan Baan

This year’s Serpentine Gallery Pavilion is designed by Sou Fujimoto. It is a delicate, 3-D structure composed of fine white steel bars, described as a “Floating Cloud”, by the architect himself.

It is an extra-ordinarily simple structure of frames, which is a multi-purpose social space. This “transparent terrain” has different levels which inter-connect, and that is perhaps what intrigues me the most about this pavilion.

The architect has also stayed true to his style of architecture, as the white finishes and frame like structures can be deemed recognisable in his other buildings, such as House N, and also House NA which was a great concept in itself.

Below are a few photographs of the Gallery.

AHouslso click here for a wonderful video where the Japanese architect speaks about his the pavilion. The short clips at the start capture the structure in the most beautiful manner.

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013
Designed by Sou Fujimoto, © Sou Fujimoto Architects
Image © 2013 Iwan Baan

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013
Designed by Sou Fujimoto, © Sou Fujimoto Architects

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013
Designed by Sou Fujimoto, © Sou Fujimoto Architects
Image © 2013 Iwan Baan

 

For more detailed information on this year’s Serpentine Gallery, click on the link below:

http://www.serpentinegallery.org/2013/02/sou_fujimoto_to_design_serpentine_gallery_pavilion_2013.html

The 13th Venice Biennale…Oh how I wish I was there!

Whichever architecture related website I look at, there is only talk of the Venice Biennale, along with photographs and videos of the inspiring and crazy ideas that artists and architects have collaborated to create.

Firstly, Congratulations to Toyo Ito’s Japanese Pavilion for winning the Best Pavilion Award at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2012. This year, like all the ones before it, has once again proved just how creative the human mind can be.I have already written plenty about my thoughts and experiences on the Venice Biennale, which in 2009 I was fortunate enough to visit. My experiences can be read on the following blog-post:

https://zeynasanjania.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/my-week-in-venice/

Therefore, I am going to keep this one short and just post a few photographs of what caught my eye. I am sure the pavilions must be even more striking for the visitors of the Biennale. We can only admire and imagine what it must be like through mere photography.

i-city, Russia Pavilion © Nico Saieh, Courtesy of ArchDaily

Arum, Zaha Hadid Architects © Nico Saieh, Courtesy of ArchDaily

Home-for-all, Japan Pavilion © David Basulto, Courtesy of ArchDaily

Study model, Japan Pavilion © David Basulto, Courtesy of ArchDaily

For a brief but well-rounded summary of this years Biennale, have a look at the following link (Courtesy of Architizer Blog):

http://www.architizer.com/en_us/blog/dyn/49155/biennale-bulletin-pavilion-superlatives-of-2012/

I will leave you with a video from Zaha Hadid Architects, which shows the development of the concept with spectacular graphics.