Video reveals Marina Tabassum's canopy-like Serpentine Pavilion

See this year's Serpentine Pavilion in London, which opens to the public on 6 June 2025, in this short video produced by Dezeen for the Serpentine Galleries.

Designed by Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum, the pavilion comprises four arched timber capsules with translucent panels, which diffuse light like sunlight filtering through a tree canopy.

The pavilion opens to the public this Friday

Titled A Capsule in Time, the pavilion's timber stand on either side of a central courtyard that contains a single Gingko tree, which was strategically aligned with the Serpentine South Gallery's bell tower.

The pavilion's translucent facade was informed by South Asian ceremonial tents, known as shamianas, traditionally used across the Indian subcontinent.

Tabassum told Dezeen in an exclusive video interview that childhood memories of light filtering through shamiana fabric served as a starting point for the design of her pavilion.

The pavilion also plays on the transient nature of the annual commission, with Tabassum describing the structure as a capsule for storing memories. It was designed to be used as a library after the installation ends in October.

Read more about this year's Serpentine Pavilion ›

The Serpentine Pavilion will be open to the public from 6 June to 26 October 2025 at the Serpentine Galleries in London. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

Partnership content

This video was produced by Dezeen for the Serpentine Galleries as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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