thoughts on the serpentine pavilion

a trip to the serpentine gallery two weekends ago to see the summer pavilion resulted in mixed feelings about the construction by SANAA.

on the one hand, the feeling of non-presence and transience alluded to by Nishizawa and described in press photos has been sharply dispelled by the pavilion's function as a busy cafe and children's activity centre, removing it from the realm of the ethereal and placing it in mundanity. on the other hand, the presence of people in and around the pavilion strengthens the dynamics of the structure, as details like the undulating height impacts on the circulation of people. at points, the canopy is not felt at all, and where it dips down, one is increasingly aware of its sloping presence. adults and children have different perceptions of the canopy height - the kids run freely where grown-ups have to stoop, sit down and often bump their heads.

but what is certain is that the use (usurpation?) of the structure has had a dramatic impact on one's response to the structure itself. the openness of the pavilion allows refreshingly uninterrupted access, but the resulting throng of people also causes the structure itself to "melt away" almost to mundanity - possibly more than originally imagined?