Founded in 2015 by Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo, Mexico City–based practice LANZA Atelier will present a pavilion titled a serpentine, marking the 25th edition of the annual commission in London. The project will be on view until 25th October 2026.

The Serpentine Pavilion programme, established in 2000, has become a platform for architectural experimentation, particularly for emerging practices. Over time, the pavilion has also functioned as a public venue for Serpentine’s live, education and community programmes. To mark the 25th anniversary, Serpentine will partner with the Zaha Hadid Foundation on a dedicated architecture programme in 2026, acknowledging Hadid’s role as the designer of the inaugural pavilion.

LANZA atelier’s design takes inspiration from the serpentine, or crinkle-crankle, wall, a brick construction typology characterised by alternating curves. For the pavilion, this form is expressed through a curving brick wall and a second wall that responds to the surrounding tree canopy. A translucent roof supported by brick columns is intended to allow light and air to move through the structure, positioning it on the northern side of the site.

Brick has been selected as the primary material, referencing English garden traditions and the brick façade of Serpentine South, which was originally built as a tea pavilion. According to the architects, the material and construction approach also reflect an interest in vernacular building methods and spatial permeability.

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“It is an honour to be selected as the architects of the 25th Serpentine Pavilion, a milestone year for the commission,” says the architects. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to share our work with a wider public and to contribute to the Pavilion’s ongoing legacy of spatial experimentation and collective encounter.”

Bettina Korek, Chief Executive, Serpentine adds: “For 25 years, the Serpentine Pavilion has been a leading global platform for architectural experimentation – first inviting internationally significant architects yet to build in London, and later championing emerging voices.”

Throughout summer and autumn 2026, the pavilion will host a programme of talks, performances and events responding to its architecture.

Serprentine Galleries
serpentinegalleries.org

LANZA atelier
lanzaatelier.com