Jean Nouvel's First U.K. Structure: 2010 Serpentine Pavilion

The structure's color reflects the iconic British images of classic telephone booths, mailboxes, and city buses.

Laurel Petriello -- Interior Design, 3/29/2010 12:00:00 AM

French architecture mastermind Jean Nouvel has designed dozens of buildings in countries all over the world. One landscape so far untouched by the architect: the United Kingdom. The lack of a Nouvel structure in Britain ends this summer, however, as the 2008 Pritzker Prize winner was selected to contribute the 10th annual Serpentine Gallery Pavilion debuting in July.

Julia Peyton-Jones, director, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, co-director for Serpentine Gallery, said, “We could not be more thrilled that Jean Nouvel has accepted our invitation to design the 10th Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, the only commission of its kind worldwide that annually invites pre-eminent architects to complete their first build structure in England. It is an honor to bring Nouvel’s globally acclaimed work to London for everyone to enjoy.”

Produced in conjunction with structural engineering firm Arup, the design for this year’s pavilion is a juxtaposition of lightweight materials and metal cantilevered structures. The entire design, in honor of the gallery’s 40th anniversary year, is rendered in a London red, which contrasts the lush green surrounding environment. The color reflects the iconic British images of classic telephone booths, mailboxes, and city buses.

The flexible indoor/outdoor space, comprised of glass, polycarbonate, and fabric, offers large retractable awnings and a freestanding wall that climbs nearly 40 feet above the lawn. Versatility is the name of the game as the structure features public space complete with outdoor table tennis, a café, and an auditorium for the season’s Park Nights live performance and lecture lineup.

Images courtesy of Serpentine Gallery.