Serpentine Gallery, as a means of bringing architecture and art together, Olafur Eliasson and Kjetil Thorsen of Snohetta have created the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens, London, in 2007. Based on the idea of a winding ramp, the pavilion explores the concept of creating a pavilion in just one level, but adding the element of vertical circulation by playing with the height.
© Luke Hayes
The team has created a wide spiraling ramp that completes two turns, offering view towards the Kensington Gardens at its highest point, the visitors being able to go from the lawn to the roof with the help of the ramp, which brings together the interior of the Pavilion and its surroundings. The space is well defined by a geometric pattern that is used both as a wall surface and as a place to sit.
Lidia Ratoi is a Romanian architect, educator, and researcher, currently serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Architecture. With a background in both architectural design and theory, her work explores the intersections of technology, media, and politics in the built environment. Ratoi’s research focuses on the aesthetics of power, surveillance, and virtuality, with a strong interest in critical and speculative design. She has practiced internationally and exhibited in venues across Europe and Asia. Passionate about challenging conventional narratives, Ratoi integrates digital tools with philosophical inquiry, encouraging experimental approaches to architecture. Her contributions continue to shape emerging discourses in design and architectural pedagogy.