Marina Tabassum brings wooden staple structures to the Serpentine Pavilion 2025

The Bangladeshi architect uses wood as a central element in a design that reinterprets South Asian building traditions

Serpentine Gallery in London has chosen wood as the main material for the 2025 edition of its famous pavilion. Marina Tabassum and her company, Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA)will create "A Capsule in Time," a predominantly wooden structure that will open June 6, 2025 at Serpentine South.

Wood in the spotlight: sculptural capsules in natural material

The defining element of this year's pavilion is the use of wood to create four distinct capsular forms. The wooden structure will be complemented by a translucent facade that allows light to penetrate and create shadow play inside - an approach reminiscent of filtering light through the foliage of trees.

Tabassum chose wood both for its structural qualities and for its ability to create a visual and tactile connection with the natural surroundings of Kensington Gardens.

MTA's experience with wood is also reflected in their social projects, where they use natural materials in innovative ways. A simple but effective example is the Khudi Bari [Small House] (2020-ongoing), where modular structures made of bamboo and local materials can be easily dismantled and moved when needed.

A wooden pavilion with a dynamic element

The pavilion's wooden structure will be elongated in a north-south direction, with a central courtyard that aligns with the Serpentine South tower. According to the sketches, the four wooden modules form an architectural ensemble that invites visitors to explore the space.

The most technically interesting feature is the movable element - one of the wooden staples will be able to be moved and reconnected, thus transforming the configuration of the whole pavilion. This wood engineering solution demonstrates the versatility of the material and its potential in contemporary architecture.

Woodworking tradition and technique

The pavilion combines traditional techniques with contemporary woodworking solutions. The design is inspired by the Shamiyana tents of South Asia - traditional structures made with bamboo poles and textiles - but reinterprets them using modern woodwork and advanced engineering elements.

Marina Tabassum, speaking about the choice of materials, explains, "The archaic volume of a half-capsule, generated by the geometry and wrapped in semi-transparent material, will create a play of filtered light that will pierce the structure as if under a Shamiyana at a Bengali wedding." This approach shows how wood can be used to achieve visual and spatial effects that were traditionally created with other materials.

Wood as mediator between nature and technology

A remarkable aspect of the design is the way wood will be used to create a bridge between the natural park space and the built environment. The pavilion will be built around a mature tree, integrating it into the structure and thus bringing the park within the architectural space.

Bettina Korek and Hans Ulrich Obrist of the Serpentine Gallery emphasize, "A Capsule in Time will honor connections to the Earth and celebrate the spirit of community. Built around a mature tree at the center of the structure, the design will bring the park inside the Pavilion."

This is not the first time a Serpentine pavilion has used wood as its main material, but Tabassum's approach brings a fresh perspective, combining natural elements with ingenious solutions. The commission marks 25 years since the start of this prestigious program, initiated with Zaha Hadid pavilion in 2000.

The significance of wood in the work of Marina Tabassum

Marina Tabassum often uses natural materials in her designs, and wood has a special place in her architectural vision. Although she is best known for Bait ur Rouf Mosque (which won her the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2016), the Bangladeshi architect has explored the use of wood and natural materials in numerous projects, seeking to create architecture relevant to the local climate, context and culture.

In Bangladesh, where extreme climatic conditions test the durability of materials, Tabassum has developed innovative solutions that capitalize on the properties of wood and other local materials. His experience in designing for areas vulnerable to floods and cyclones undoubtedly influenced his approach for this temporary pavilion in London.

The Serpentine Pavilion 2025 will provide a unique opportunity to see how wood can be used to create contemporary, flexible and sensory structures. It will be open to the public between June 6 and October 26, 2025.