Libeskind's Origami Pavilion Dazzles London Park

Daniel Libeskind's temporary pavilion, "Eighteen Turns," has been erected in Kensington Gardens, offering a preview of his controversial V&A Spiral design. This origami-inspired structure, unfolding like a three-dimensional puzzle, provides a playful yet thought-provoking architectural experience in London. It is a temporary installation, scheduled to be dismantled after September 9.

The pavilion serves as an accessible way for the public to experience Libeskind's unique architectural style, much like other temporary structures have at the Serpentine Gallery. It is designed to be demountable and could potentially tour other British parks, offering adventurous architectural impressions.

Constructed from interlocking sections of steel and aluminum, the pavilion's design is both complex and logical. Libeskind describes how panels fold from the ground up, creating a continuous spiral form that generates internal labyrinths and viewing points. The structure measures 35m by 18m and stands 7m high.

This initiative by the Serpentine Gallery aligns with its commitment to showcasing new summer pavilions annually. The gallery's success in attracting visitors with such structures, including previous works by Zaha Hadid and Ron Arad, highlights the public's appetite for unexpected architecture. Libeskind's work here is seen as a promising taste of his larger projects, like the V&A Spiral.