The 2009 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion by SANAA

Describing their structure the architects said: “The Pavilion is floating aluminium, drifting freely between the trees like smoke. The reflective canopy undulates across the site, expanding the park and sky. Its appearance changes according to the weather, allowing it to melt into the surroundings. It works as a field of activity with no walls, allowing views to extend uninterrupted across the park and encouraging access from all sides. It is a sheltered extension of the park where people can read, relax and enjoy lovely summer days.”

Sejima and Nishizawa have created a stunning transparent Pavilion that resembles a reflective cloud or a floating pool of water, sitting atop a series of delicate columns. The metal roof structure varies in height, wrapping itself around the trees in the park, reaching up towards the sky and sweeping down almost to the ground in various places. Open and ephemeral in structure, its translucent and reflective materials make it sit seamlessly within the natural environment, reflecting both the park and sky around it.

The Pavilion will be the architects’ first built structure in the UK and the ninth commission in the Gallery’s annual series of Pavilions, the world’s first and most ambitious architectural programme of its kind that annually gives preeminent architects their debut in this country and brings the best of contemporary architecture to London for everyone to enjoy.

There is no budget for the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion commission. It is paid for by sponsorship, sponsorship help-in-kind, and the sale of the finished structure, which does not cover more than 40% of its cost. The Serpentine Gallery collaborates with a range of companies and individuals whose support makes it possible to realise the Pavilion.

The surrounding park is reflected in the temporary structure’s aluminium roof, which is shaped to curve around trees on the site and varies in height. Curved walls made of transparent acrylic surround a cafe and auditorium under this canopy. The pavilion opens to the public on Sunday and will remain in place until 18 October.

A program of events called Park Nights will be hosted in the auditorium including performances, talks and screenings, and culminating in the Serpentine Gallery Poetry Marathon in October.

All above info and images from http://www.dezeen.com/
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w02n 2cents:
For the first time a real pavilion. Still remember the moment I saw this pavilion proposal by SANAA , i thought it would just be another unbuilt images, where thinness of the aluminium sheet is hardly achieved. After Datum 2009, where i surprised with Junya Ishigami approached and genius thought, I know this pavilion would come true. Japanese architect always have incredible and beautiful thought in architecture.
Now, this serene pavilion shown the temporary-ness intent, and its sophisticated poetic and lightness approaches create a most beautiful pavilion ever. The pavilion and sheltered spaces create a uncertainty and robustness, blurring the boudary and blend tenderly to the park.
Compare to other pavilion created by the other well known architects, this would be my favourite.