Sumayya Vally's 2021 Serpentine Pavilion reimagines migrant meeting spaces across London
The 2021 Serpentine Pavilion, crafted by Sumayya Vally from the South African firm Counterspace, was inaugurated on 11 June and will remain open until 17 October 2021 in Hyde Park, London. This innovative structure showcases black slabs and concrete-coated shapes, creating cozy seating alcoves. Vally drew inspiration from architectural features of migrant gathering places throughout London, arranging them in a fractal pattern. At just 21, she became the youngest architect awarded this commission. The pavilion functions as a space for coffee, photography, and events, with design elements displayed at four locations in London: New Beacon Books, The Tabernacle, The Albany arts centre, and Becontree Forever Arts and Culture Hub. The design is influenced by Jonathan Raban's 'Soft City' and William Wordsworth's 'The Prelude,' with coverage by Will Wiles in ArtReview.
Key facts
- Sumayya Vally designed the 2021 Serpentine Pavilion
- The pavilion is located in Hyde Park, London
- It opened on 11 June 2021 and runs until 17 October 2021
- Vally is the youngest architect to receive the Serpentine Pavilion commission
- The design incorporates architectural elements from migrant meeting places across London
- Fragments of the pavilion are installed at four additional London locations
- The structure is made of concrete-coated board on a steel frame
- The Serpentine Pavilion program is now 21 years old
Entities
Artists
- Sumayya Vally
- Will Wiles
- William Wordsworth
- Jonathan Raban
Institutions
- Counterspace
- Serpentine Gallery
- New Beacon Books
- The Tabernacle
- The Albany arts centre
- Becontree Forever Arts and Culture Hub
- Valence Library
- ArtReview
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Hyde Park
- Finsbury Park
- Notting Hill
- Deptford
- Barking and Dagenham
- South Africa