Serpentine Gallery Pavilion
Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura

“Pavilion”; I retain the following definition: “detached construction in the centre or on the side of the main body of a building.” (“Verbo Encyclopaedia”)

The Pavilion leans over a neoclassic house, as an animal with its paws firmly set on the ground, anxiously intent on coming closer, yet restrained. Its back extends; its fur stands on end. It looks askance sensing the house. It makes the house define its own space. It holds its ground, bows its head, and does not go forward. Will it eventually eat it?
It allows the usual passers-by to cross it and opens up the brick floor to enjoyment. It affords chairs, tables, shade.
Lazy but restless, it spreads a golden light which marks the London sky – sits back and relaxes.

However hard it tries, no house remains detached.
There are neither deserts nor faraway places in the world.

 Project Pavilhão da Serpentine Gallery
 Location Hyde Park, Londres, Reino Unido
 Date 2005
 Architects Álvaro Siza e Eduardo Souto de Moura
 Client Serpentine Gallery
 Photo Jorge Figueira