First images: Herzog & De Meuron and Ai Weiwei's Serpentine Pavilion
The disc of Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei’s Serpentine pavilion
First glimpse of controversial pavilion project
The site of this year’s Serpentine Pavilion, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei, was still teeming with construction workers this morning, just two days before the official opening.
Images show that the low disc structure that forms the ‘floating roof’ over the project’s centrepiece is now in place. It sits on 12 columns, 11 of which will characterise each of the past pavilions.
The roof covers the large hole in the ground that the designers said would collect rainwater and expose the remains of foundations from previous pavilions, although it was later revelaed that those foundations would have to be completely rebuilt to achieve this.
In a BD debate John McAslan defended the design.
“It’s a great idea to uncover something that didn’t exist and, if it had existed, might or might not have been like this,” said McAslan.
“The new pavilion uncovers the ghosts of foundations, in many ways exploring similar themes that have pre-occupied Rachel Whiteread, whose work interrogates negative space, producing a solid cast of the spaces beneath furniture or indeed the spaces within an entire house, in the process creating forms that communicate the the residue of years and years of use.”
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Readers' comments (8)
like it or hate it, it is still better than Nouvel's
I didn't realise it was controversial?
No safety helmets, no gloves, no steel toe shoes. No Safety. Must be building it in true Chinese methods.
'uncover something that didn't exist' ???
'might or might not exist' ????
how can I get good money paid for this c..p??
'it sits on 12 columns, 11 of which will characterise each of the past pavilions' ? so, what is the 12th one for ?
I know, it is to characterise the next pavilion which 'may or may not exist' 'at some possible future'
That sentence provides great inspiration for my next client presentation:
“It’s a great idea to build something that doesn’t exist and, if it will exist, might or might not look like this”
I'll post pictures of the client's faces here, later.
How generous of you, moderator, to remove my post. Was it erased for implying that a Big Name had spouted vapid nonsense? It was neither vulgar nor libellous and I fail to see which of your house rules it broke.
In other stories, you have tolerated intimidation, abuse and vulgarity with complete abandon. If you don't like contrary opinion, why do you invite comments at all?
My opinion is that the design is not worthy of this annual event. Others feel differently and are supportive of it. Neither opinion is anything more than subjective and therefore neither deserves to be removed for the non-libellous, non-offensive comments that it expresses.
Editor's comments
Hi Charles,
I appreciate that our comment moderation isn't always transparent, but we are only human. We are trying a new approach to raise the tone of comments as some have become very vicious and offer nothing constructive in return. It is often hard to judge when a comment passes over from fair comment to vicious prod, and that call has to be made by the individual moderating the story. If it turns out that this new approach ends up inhibiting the dicussion on Bdonline then we will re-asses, but in the meantime we have to try this as it was getting out of hand.
Anna Winston
Onlind editor
“It’s a great idea to uncover something that didn’t exist and, if it had existed, might or might not have been like this,” said McAslan sycophantically.