Seoul-based Korean architect Minsuk Cho and his firm Mass Studies have been selected to design the 23rd Serpentine Pavilion, to open on June 5, 2024, in London’s Kensington Gardens. Titled “Archipelagic Void,” this iteration of the iconic commission will consist of five ‘islands’ displayed around an open space, breaking down the structure into a series of smaller elements intertwined with the park’s natural ecology. The pavilion will be open to the public from June 7, until October 27, 2024, with a press preview two days before the opening.
The multifaceted pavilion is arranged around a central void, which acts as a madang, the small courtyard often found in old Korean houses that gathers all the narratives of individual and collective everyday activities. This singular central void is designed to act in a similar way, anchoring the archipelago of structures surrounding it.
Around this void, the islands of the pavilion are envisioned as “content machines,” each serving a different purpose. The “Gallery” expands the Serpentine South’s curatorial activities. Acting as the main entry point to the Pavilion, The "Gallery" will host a six-channel sound installation created by musician and composer Jan Young-Gyu. Drawing inspiration from Mass Studies' design, Jang incorporates sounds from nature and human activities recorded in Kensington Gardens using traditional Korean instruments. Encouraging pause and reflection, The "Library of Unread Books" by artist Heman Chong and archivist Renée Staal welcomes visitors to submit an unread book in their personal libraries to the growing collection. Seeking to form a pool of knowledge, this activation functions as a collective action addressing "notions of access and distribution."
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A Look at the Last 6 Editions of the Serpentine PavilionThe “Tea House” takes cues from the historical gallery’s role as a tea pavilion, positioned to the east of the Pavilion. The “Play Tower” is a pyramid structure fitted with a bright orange netscape, opening up the space with to encourage dynamic interactions between visitors. Finally, the "Auditorium" is the largest structure of the five islands, featuring benches built into its inner walls. This area acts as a space for gathering, performances, and talks throughout the duration of the Pavilion's opening.
The spaces between these structures also have distinct spatial identities, acting as thresholds between the surrounding park and the pavilion activities. These adaptable spaces are created to welcome people and offer flexible spaces for live programs. In fact, in June, Serpentine will present a performance by artist, choreographer, and dancer Eun-Me Ahn to commemorate the program. Overall, the Pavilion provides an interdisciplinary platform for live encounters in music, poetry, spoken words, and dance alongside Serpentine’s Technology and Ecology activities.
We began by asking what can be uncovered and added to the Serpentine site, which has already explored over 20 iterations at the center of the lawn, from a roster of great architects and artists. To approach this new chapter differently, instead of viewing it as a carte blanche, we embraced the challenge of considering the many existing peripheral elements while exploring the center as a void. It also begins to address the history of the Serpentine Pavilion. By inverting the center as a void, we shift our architectural focus away from the built center of the past, facilitating new possibilities and narratives. - Minsuk Cho, Architect, Mass Studies
Founded in 2003 by Minsuk Cho in Seoul, Korea, Mass Studies investigates matters of context, mass production, emerging urban conditions and cultural niches in order to find the defining spatial conditions of the present. The office is focused on spatial systems, building materials/techniques, and typological divergences that influence architectural production. In 2014, the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Minsuk Cho together with Hyungmin Pai and Changmo Ahn, was awarded the Golden Lion Best National Participation. The office is also behind engaging projects such as Southcape Owner’s Club: Clubhouse, featuring curvatures that integrate it into the surrounding landscape, the Songwon Art Center, or the Osulloc Tea House Pavilions in South Korea.
Minsuk Cho’s appointment continues the Serpentine Pavilion’s effort to highlight upcoming names in the architecture practice. Last year, the commission was given to Beirut-born, Paris-based architect Lina Ghotmeh, who centered her approach around the idea of gathering to share a meal and engage in conversations. Previous editions have seen installations like Theaster Gates’ Black Chapel, Francis Kéré's "symbol of togetherness", Junya Ishigami's "hill of rocks," and BIG's "unzipped wall.”
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on January 22nd, 2024, and updated on May 17th, 2024.
