ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo

CLAD people

Frida Escobedo, architect

Project - Serpentine Pavilion, London


Mexican architect Frida Escobedo’s Serpentine Pavilion has launched in Kensington Gardens, London.

Escobedo’s courtyard-based design harnesses a “subtle interplay of light, water and geometry” and is inspired in part by the domestic architecture of Mexico, the Prime Meridian line at London’s Royal Observatory in Greenwich, and British materials and history. Born in 1979, Escobedo is the youngest architect to have participated in the Serpentine Pavilion programme.

Serpentine Galleries artistic director Hans Ulrich Obrist and CEO Yana Peel selected Escobedo, the 18th designer for the structure.

The architect’s prize-winning work in urban reactivation ranges from housing and community centres to hotels and galleries. In 2006, she founded her practice in Mexico City, with significant national projects including the Librería del Fondo Octavio Paz and an extension of La Tallera Siqueiros gallery in Cuernavaca.

Her designs have featured at the Venice Architecture Biennale (2012 and 2014) and the Lisbon Architecture Triennale (2013).

Escobedo has used a black steel frame, with stacks of cement roof tiles making up the walls of the structure and a dark concrete floor. These allow the visitor to focus on what she describes as the most important materials of the pavilion: “The reflections of the sky and trees, distorted by the curve of the canopy or the shifting surface of the pool, the dissolving perspective of the surrounding park through the celosia, and the unpredictable play of light and shadow throughout the pavilion”.

“My design for the Serpentine Pavilion 2018 is a meeting of material and historical inspirations inseparable from the city of London itself and an idea which has been central to our practice from the beginning: the expression of time in architecture through inventive use of everyday materials and simple forms,” she added.

“I hope visitors will find a space in which the passage of time feels a bit hazy — fun yet meditative, and hopefully engaging the senses in unexpected ways. On a more practical level, I envision it as a good space for conversation, for getting out of the sun, for splashing around in the water a little bit.”

The pavilion opened on 15 June 2018 and will close on 7 October 2018. Constructed in collaboration with AECOM, technical advisor David Glover and construction firm Stage One, who previously worked on Wolfgang Buttress’ Hive and Thomas Heatherwick’s 2012 Olympic cauldron. Goldman Sachs is the headline sponsor.

It was recently announced that the Serpentine Pavilion programme is being expanded to Beijing in 2018, after a major international agreement was struck between Chinese retail giant WF Central and the Serpentine Galleries. The inaugural pavilion has been designed by Chinese firm JIAKUN Architects, and is set to open in May on the lawns of The Green at WF Central – a 150,000sq m (1.6 million sq ft) hospitality hub in Wangfujing, Dongcheng District.

Gallery
Click on an image to open the image gallery
company profile
Company profile: Global Project & Spa Advisory
We focus as much on profitability as we do on customer experience, in the definition of global wellness services. Daily wellness is a trend we support. We define personalised services, integrating health prevention and all experiences that enhance the sustainability of one’s wellbeing.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
The Bacots moved to Serenbe in 2014, attracted by the sense of community
"We love being surrounded by people who teach us and make us better. Serenbe has also really enhanced our thinking about the value of nature and being outside on a daily basis"

Eliza Bacot and her husband Benton talk about living at Serenbe with their family

The Ian Schrager Company designed the “provocative and flamboyant” interiors
The hotelier said his ambition is ‘to upset the status quo’
"Everyone deserves a one-of-a-kind experience that lifts their spirits and makes their heart beat faster"

On upsetting the status quo with his latest hotel

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
The stadium is a multi purpose venue designed to host football matches and athletic meets. The building was modelled in two locations: Volos, Greece and Istanbul, Turkey
"The land was previously occupied by an oil refinery so we installed isolation layers before laying the pitch"

Azerbaijan is investing in sport, tourism and architecture to turn itself into a global destination. We take a look at the newly opened Baku Olympic Stadium

CLAD people: Hannah Beachler
"I fell in love with Zaha Hadid"

Black Panther set designer Hannah Beachler

The landscaping is inspired by the volcanic landscape of Jeju Island. The 38-floor tower features a hotel and casino
Martha Schwartz
"No one is taking the issue of climate change seriously. Some bad things will have to happen before there is a change"

The outspoken landscape architect on climate change, bagels and being controversial

Prince-Ramus wanted to create a building that is both beautiful and technologically groundbreaking
Prince-Ramus was the founding partner of OMA New York, before rebranding the firm as REX in 2006
"If there are many possible solutions, we choose the one that is most beautiful"

Rem Koolhaas’ protege on the challenges of designing a truly flexible arts centre for Ground Zero

cladkit product news
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
cladkit product news
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
cladkit product news
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo