Serpentine Galleries launches first international pavilion in Beijing designed by Jiakun Architects

London's Serpentine Galleries will open its first pavilion outside the UK in Beijing this May. Designed by Beijing-based Jiakun Architects, the temporary structure will serve as a public cultural venue for six months. Located in the Dongcheng district adjacent to the Forbidden City, the pavilion forms part of the new WF Central luxury retail and hospitality complex. This marks a significant expansion for the Serpentine Pavilion program, which began in 2000 with annual commissions from architects like Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, and Francis Kéré. While previous pavilions have traveled to locations including Cornwall, Somerset, Tirana, and Sainte Maxime, this represents the first permanent international iteration. The initiative typically features temporary structures outside the Serpentine's main gallery in London's Hyde Park.