Portuguese cork is returning to London’sspectacular Kensington Gardens as the material chosen for the 2020/21 edition of the iconic Serpentine Summer Pavilion, in a project designed by the South African architecture studio, Counterspace. The studio, formed by three women architects, Sumayya Vally, Sarah de Villiers and Amina Kaskar, is the youngest team ever to lead the Serpentine’s architecture programme. The project uses 200 m2 of cork, supplied by Corticeira Amorim, and responds to the challenge posed to the architects to build a distinctively eco-friendly temporary installation.

This is not the fi rst time that Portuguese cork has been used in one of the world’s most important annual art and architecture events. In 2012, cork was chosen for the project signed by the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and by the Chinese artist and activist, Ai Weiwei. On that occasion it was integrated within a circular structure comprised of around 100 itemsof furniture made of Portuguese agglomerated cork. The results spoke for themselves: it enjoyed the highest-ever number of visitors to the summer pavilions of the famous London art gallery. Counterspace, the architecture studio founded and directed by Sumayya Vally, who was recently recognised by the Times (2021 TIME100 Next List), is the 20th guest to design the Serpentine Summer Pavilion.

Subverting the normal permanence of architecture, the Serpentine Summer Pavilion is conceived as an event that, in this edition, will include a set of movable elements that will be installed in different London neighbourhoods to promote and facilitate improvised meetings and interactions, in honour of the places and structures that have consolidated communities over time. The project designed by this trio of female architects from Johannesburg and migrant communities in the British capital. It offers an invitation to refletion about ideas associated to architecture, design, the environment, community and well-being.

Serpentine Pavilion 2021 designed by Counterspace, Exterior and Interior View © Counterspace

Photo: Iwan Baan