The Serpentine Galleries Pavilion in Kensington Gardens is open. Every year a significant author with an international reputation and a clear statement is attracted to his project. The temporary construction is a kind of architectural surprise, an important personal exhibition and a place for summer holidays. After Zaha Hadid, Nouvel, or Bjarke Ingels, the choice of 2017 is Diébédo Francis Kéré.

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“What fascinates me is how this artificial landscape offers a new way for people in the city to experience nature. In Burkina Faso, I am used to the fact that you are confronted with the climate and the natural landscape as a harsh reality. ”

The seventeenth pavilion was created by an architect plying between Burkina Faso and Berlin. Kere drew inspiration from the local Gando culture (Burkina Faso), where he designed the school. In Gando, the tree acts as a way to unite people, hence the wooden roof supported by the steel frame. In addition, the architect seeks to encourage communication with nature, as was the case in Gando. Kere achieves his intention with the help of a translucent rainwater harvesting system: a funnel forming a steel frame. It is estimated that about 2,400 gallons will be collected, all of which will be irrigated (although summer rain for London roses and primulas can hardly be called an acute problem).

Francis Kerere Diebedo was attracted by Hans Ulrich Obrist, artistic director of Serpentine, and Jan Peel, executive director, and David Adjaye and Richard Rogers advised them. The pavilion will be shown and open to the public from June 23 to October 8, 2017.