Ai Weiwei's Serpentine Pavilion opens Friday

This year's Serpentine Pavilion, designed collaboratively by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Wei Wei is set to open this Friday. The Pavilion commission is a showcase of architectural imagination and provides and venue for talks and film screenings throughout the summer months. In it's 12th year, the pavilion is being taken underground, exposing the foundations and ghosts of the previous 11 commissions. Open to the public from 1st June 2012, the pavilion will from a part of the London 2012 Festival the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad.

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012 designed by Herzog & du Meuron and Ai Weiwei: Architectural plan showing ariel view

The interior of the pavilion is to be lined with cork, a sustainable building material and 12 columns will support the roof which stands 1.4 metres above the ground.

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012 designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Wei Wei: Plans showing detail of Interior

The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion is always a popular location in the summer months, set in the heart of Kensington Gardens. This year's structure will be open until 14th October 2012, make sure to keep an eye on the Serpentine Gallery website for a full programme of events.

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012: Architectural plan showing external view
 

For further details see the Rise Art events page.