Architect Minsuk Cho has created a star-shaped shelter organised around a circular void, informed by courtyards of historic Korean houses, as the 2024 Serpentine Pavilion.
Situated in central London's Kensington Gardens, the pavilion named Archipelagic Void comprises five structures ? or "islands" ? each serving different functions.
The star-shaped pavilion is organised around a circular void
In contrast to pavilions from previous years, which have often taken the form of a central singular structure, Cho aimed to create numerous forms around a central, open space.
"Many of these greats that I admire so much ? artists and architects ? over the past 22 editions have explored ways of bringing people together ? a form of generosity through architecture," Cho said. "In our case, a way to bring together was to provide many choices." Five timber structures wrap around the courtyard
Built largely from natural timber sourced from Surrey, the pavilion's five structures feature varying sizes, heights and forms and are each supported by raised concrete plinths that extend outwards to provide built-in seating.
The structures are also connected at their roofs by a circular steel ring that mimics the shape of the courtyard below.
The Play Tower is fitted with an orange netscape. Photo by Tom Ravenscroft
"The majority of it is a complete, condensed, compressed geometry," Cho told Dezeen. "And then so there's this really concentrated, overused p...