The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion commission is an ongoing programme of temporary structures. The Pavilion architects to date are: Olafur Eliasson and Kjetil Thorsen, 2007; Rem Koolhaas and Cecil Balmond, with Arup, 2006; ?Ålvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura with Cecil Balmond, Arup, 2005; MVRDV with Arup, 2004 (un-realised); Oscar Niemeyer, 2003; Toyo Ito with Arup, 2002; Daniel Libeskind with Arup, 2001; and Zaha Hadid, 2000.

Frank Gehry’s Pavilion now sits dwarfing the serpentine gallery. The originality and intrigue that is associated with Ghery’s architecture, puts it on the plane of sculpture. The spectacular structure is four massive steel columns and is comprised of large timber planks and a complex network of overlapping glass planes that create a dramatic, multi-dimensional space. part-promenade, these seemingly random elements make a transitional space from outside to inside, whilst keeping
Frank Gehry said: ‘The Pavilion is designed as a wooden timber structure that acts as an urban street running from the park to the existing Gallery. Inside the Pavilion, glass canopies are hung from the wooden structure to protect the interior from wind and rain and provide for shade during sunny days. The Pavilion is much like an amphitheatre, designed to serve as a place for live events, music, performance, discussion and debate. As the visitor walks through the Pavilion they have access to terraced seating on both sides of the urban street. In addition to the terraced seating there are two elevated seating pods, which are accessed around the perimeter of the Pavilion. These pods serve as visual markers enclosing the street and can be used as stages, private viewing platforms and dining areas.’

Recent criticism of Gehry suggests he is repeating himself. It is claimed that his use of disjointed metal curved roofing that has become Gehry’s trademark is clich?©d, and that almost all of his recent work seems too derivative. Try telling that to a Warhol enthusiast! However it seems that he has branched out of this mode of working to produce this wooden pagoda like construction. Its use of flat planes elevated at different angles creates a different kind of dynamicity. This is a man who’s process of making is very similar to an artist, his style has progressed. Although many of his buildings have maintained the vocabulary of rolling metallic forms, within this motif is incredible variety and innovation. See Naum Gabo’s work for an excellent example of creative linear sculpture. He even once appeared as himself in The Simpson’s where he parodied himself by intimating that his ideas are derived by looking at a crumpled paper ball. He has obviously been stealing ideas off Martin Creed.