RIBA Bookshops Serpentine Gallery…

The Serpentine Gallery annual architectural commission is an ongoing programme of temporary structures by internationally acclaimed designers. There is no competition to choose designers, as the decision is curatorial and only international architects who have not completed a building in the UK at that time are eligible. The 2006 pavilion was jointly designed by architect Rem Koolhaas and the innovative structural engineer Cecil Balmond. Together they created a fascinating ensemble of a round pavilion, on which a helium-filled canopy floated. The walled enclosure underneath functioned as both a cafe and a forum for daily public programmes, which embodied the aims of both the designers and the Serpentine by creating a setting for shared discussion.