The Mexican architecture studio LANZA atelier, founded by Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo, has been selected to design the 2026 Serpentine Pavilion. Titled a serpentine, the structure represents the 25th edition of the annual architectural commission at Serpentine South. This milestone iteration will be delivered in partnership with the Zaha Hadid Foundation to commemorate the legacy of the late architect, who designed the inaugural pavilion at the turn of the century.
Architectural Concept and Historical Context
The design for the pavilion finds its primary inspiration in the “crinkle-crankle” or serpentine wall, a historical English architectural feature. These walls utilize a series of alternating curves to provide lateral stability, a structural technique that allows for the construction of walls only one brick thick without the need for additional buttresses. Although widely associated with English garden traditions, the form originated in ancient Egypt and was later introduced to the United Kingdom by Dutch engineers.
LANZA atelier’s implementation of this curvilinear geometry serves as a dual reference to the vernacular landscape and the eponymous Serpentine lake. The structure is designed to function as a rhythmic intervention within the park, utilizing the alternating curves to modulate movement and frame specific vantage points. According to the architects, the wall is conceived as a device that both reveals and withholds, shaping the experience of proximity and orientation for those navigating the site.
Materiality and Structural Composition
The pavilion will be constructed primarily from clay brick, a material choice intended to establish a direct dialogue with the existing masonry of the Serpentine South Gallery. The design features a rhythmic repetition of brick columns that transition the perimeter from opaque sections to permeable openings, allowing for the natural circulation of air and light.
A translucent roof structure will rest upon these columns, intended to evoke the aesthetic of a forest canopy. The positioning of the main structure on the northern side of the site ensures that the existing tree canopy remains undisturbed, fostering a harmonic relationship between the built environment and the surrounding landscape.
Institutional Significance and Programming
Founded in 2015 and based in Mexico City, LANZA atelier is the second Mexican practice to be awarded the commission, following Frida Escobedo. Their practice is characterized by an emphasis on hands-on design methods, including drawing and model-making, and a focus on how spatial intelligence manifests in informal or unexpected conditions.
As part of the 25th-anniversary celebrations, the Serpentine will collaborate with the Zaha Hadid Foundation to host a dedicated program focused on architectural innovation. This initiative will bring together former pavilion architects and contemporary thinkers to discuss the evolution of the field and the legacy of the commission. Additionally, the pavilion will serve as a venue for an interdisciplinary program spanning music, philosophy, and technology.
To coincide with the project, Serpentine will publish the first monograph dedicated to LANZA atelier’s work. The publication, designed by Estudio Herrera, will include an essay by José Esparza Chong Cuy and a conversation between the architects and Serpentine Artistic Director Hans Ulrich Obrist.
Schedule and Visitation Details
The Serpentine Pavilion 2026, supported by Goldman Sachs, will be situated at Serpentine South. The project timeline is as follows:
- Press View: Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.
- Public Opening: June 6, 2026.
- Closing Date: October 25, 2026.
