Take a seat: Serpentine Pavilion London 2023

Meeting place for table talks

"À Table" means "At the table" and is the French call to gather around the table to eat, discuss and exchange. In order to make this possible for visitors, Lina Ghotme equipped the pavilion, which was built in the form of a nonagon, with many tables and seats lined up along the inner wall. In this way, she has created a space that offers room for discussions, reflections as well as conversations about the current issues of our time. The pavilion is meant to promote community and bring people together.

Diversely inspired

The design of the pavilion is reminiscent of the traditional togunas in Mali, which are usually located in the centre of the village and are traditional community huts that promote dialogue. They invite peaceful gatherings - much like the pavilion itself. The thoughtful integration of wood and filigree patterns not only creates a harmonious aesthetic, but also allows natural ventilation as well as daylight to penetrate. The folded roof is inspired by palm leaves and offers protection. In addition, Lina Ghotme focuses on sustainability in the production of her pavilion: the construction is largely made of organic and low-CO2 materials, while natural elements such as birch trunks are used as wooden benches inside.

"À Table" invites us to take a seat, share ideas, socialise and engage in conversation.

All images: Serpentine Pavilion 2023 designed by Lina Ghotmeh.
© Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture. Photo: Iwan Baan, Courtesy: Serpentine.