London Belongs to Me (again) - part three

So, I am still in the park, well parks, because I have now crossed over the road to Kensington Gardens to see: 

the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2009 . . . 

This is a structure that makes me positively joyful. Designed by Kazuyo Sejima and Rue Nishizawa of the Japanese architectural practice SANAA, this is a structure that is all about movement and curves and light and reflection, which not only blends into its surroundings; it disappears into them. But is never lost.

It's for standing under:

and sitting under:

even the chairs are pretty cool:

Sheer brilliance. 

More about this year's structure and the history of the annual Serpentine Gallery Pavilion here.

With all eyes on the Pavilion, it's easy to miss this, or rather these:

a section of one of eight stone benches, set in two groups of four in front of the curved hedges that flank the gallery. This is the other memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales; not the problematic fountain that everyone made such a fuss about. These benches are quieter, more contemplative, and were designed by Ian Hamilton Finlay as a memorial to the gallery's late patron. 

Who could forget the night she turned up at the gallery wearing the revenge dress?

Comments

[Rattling On]

I love that pavilion. One of the things I miss about city living is the breadth of places to visit. Having said that I'm taking my youngest to a local exhibition today and then to a continental food market in the Pavilion Gardens. So, I shouldn't moan too much, but like buses, they all come at once...

[colleen]

Great photos. I had been wondering myself how best to capture the sinousness of the pavilion. You've managed it very well. And I'm a big fan of IHF too.

[Moira]

Oh! Fab! I had seen something about this a month or so ago and forgotten about it. Must, must, must get a trip to London fitted in this autumn.

[materfamilias]

Clearly, we "did" Hyde Park too quickly last spring! Never mind, we're already planning for the next visit . . .