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June10, 2025

Andrew Campbell 

On June 6, 2025, the Serpentine Pavilion officially opened to the public in Kensington Gardens, London. Designed by Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum and her Dhaka-based firm, the structure marks the 25th anniversary of the Serpentine Pavilion initiative, which began in 2000 with Zaha Hadid’s inaugural design.

Titled A Capsule in Time, the pavilion draws inspiration from the adaptive, temporary shelters of the Bengal Delta. Constructed entirely from wood, the structure centers around a semi-mature ginkgo tree—a resilient species chosen to symbolize continuity and endurance. This living focal point embodies the pavilion’s overarching theme: architecture as a time-based experience shaped by environmental change. The pavilion will remain open through October 26, 2025.

Beyond its architectural significance, the pavilion also serves as a cultural hub. Built-in shelves display curated texts on Bengali literature, ecology, and poetry. After the five-month exhibition concludes, these materials will be preserved in a public-access library, extending the pavilion’s legacy as a space for dialogue and shared knowledge.