zaha hadid architects: serpentine sackler gallery

serpentine sackler gallery designed by zaha hadid architects © serpentine gallery

news update: the serpentine sackler gallery, designed by pritzker architecture prize laureate zaha hadid, will open to the public on saturday, 28 september 2013.

a light transparent extension designed by zaha hadid architects will see the reopening of the 1805 former gunpowder store ‘the magazine’ to the public for the first time in its 208 year history. located five minutes walk from the serpentine gallery, the second space in kensington gardens has 900 square meters of new gallery, restaurant and social spaces.

the royal parks’ magazine building, to become the serpentine sackler gallery kensington gardens, london photo: john offenbach © the royal parks and serpentine gallery

zaha hadid’s first permanent structure in london, the new design compliments the original neoclassical architecture and restores the historic grade two listed building for public use.  the new project continues the relationship between the architect and the gallery as she was commissioned in 2000 to build an inaugural serpentine gallery pavilion.

aerial map of serpentine + magazine image courtesy of the serpentine gallery

in the serpentine sackler gallery, the white form gracefully ripples downward to meet the earth’s surface and then reflects skyward revealing gaps between the tensile roof and ground plane. natural light permeates the transparent voids into the social spaces and cafe while the original gun powder store contains the galleries. audiences will enjoy biannual commissions from leading international artists, facilitated by the director julia peyton-jones. collections featuring architecture, dance, design, film, and music among others shall be exhibited.