Gallery commissions Pritzker-winning architect for seventh pavilion.
Dutch superstar architect Rem Koolhaas is to design the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2006 – his first built structure in the UK. Koolhaas, who won the Pritzker Prize in 2000, will work with Arup on to create a temporary structure on the Gallery’s lawn over the next six months, ready to be opened in July. He will also help to devise a series of public events, including debates, interviews and films for the Pavilion.
Director of architectural practice The Office for Metropolitan Architecture, Koolhaas is as renowned for his writing as well as his buildings. One of his latest designs, the Casa da Musica, in Porto, Portugal, opened earlier this year.
The most recent Dutch practice to be commissioned to design a pavilion for the Serpentine, MVRDV, was selected in 2004, but has had its scheme postponed indefinitely due to “outstanding technical and financial issues”. MVRDV want to build a temporary 'mountain' in Kensington Gardens completely covering the existing building.
