Counterspace to Design 2020 Serpentine Pavilion

The Johannesburg-based all-female architecture studio Counterspace, founded by Sumayya Vally, Sarah de Villiers, and Amina Kaskar, has been selected to design the 2020 Serpentine Pavilion in London. The pavilion, opening June 21 and running until October 11, draws inspiration from London's diverse communities, incorporating spatial memories of areas like Brixton, Hoxton, Hackney, Whitechapel, Edgware Road, Peckham, Ealing, and North Kensington. The structure is conceived as an event, with interruptions, gradients, and color differences marking its various parts. It will use eco-friendly materials including cork panels and K-bric ecological bricks made from recycled waste. This marks Counterspace's first built project in the UK and comes after the resignation of former CEO Yana Peel, announced on the same day as the 2019 pavilion presentation. The pavilion aims to emphasize London's role as a crossroads of cultures, aligning with artistic director Hans-Ulrich Obrist's announced focus on ecology for future Serpentine initiatives.