Marina Tabassum, a renowned Bangladeshi architect, has unveiled her design for the Serpentine Pavilion 2025 titled “A Capsule in Time”. The pavilion will be built around a semi-mature Ginkgo tree in London’s Kensington Gardens and will be open to the public from June to October. Tabassum’s design draws inspiration from the traditional Bengali Shamiyana, a ceremonial tent used for community gatherings.
The pavilion will feature four wooden capsule forms with translucent façades that diffuse light, creating a spiritual and sensory architectural experience. One of the capsule forms will include a kinetic element, allowing for spatial reconfiguration to enhance interaction and movement within the space. The Ginkgo tree, known for its tolerance to climate change and lack of susceptibility to pests, will be a central feature of the pavilion.
Unveiling Tabassum’s nature-infused design
Over the course of the installation, the tree will transform in color from green to gold-yellow, highlighting Tabassum’s attention to sustainable design and environmental resilience. After the pavilion’s closure, the tree will be replanted in Kensington Gardens.
Serpentine’s Chief Executive Bettina Korek and Artistic Director Hans Ulrich Obrist expressed their excitement about this year’s pavilion, stating, “We’re thrilled that Marina Tabassum’s design for the 25th Anniversary Serpentine Pavilion reflects the legacy of past commissions and responds to Serpentine’s unique location in Kensington Gardens.”
Throughout the summer, the pavilion will host an array of live events, including architectural conversations, interdisciplinary performances, and public tours. A collaborative publication featuring essays and artistic contributions reflecting on the pavilion’s broader impact will also be launched in July. Marina Tabassum, a graduate of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the field of architecture.
Her work bridges contemporary architectural practice with cultural and historical significance, aiming to create spaces that adapt to various forms of human interaction. The Serpentine Pavilion 2025 promises to be a landmark of architectural creativity, community engagement, and environmental consciousness, epitomizing the essence of summer in London.
