by PRAMOD THOMAS
THE new commission at the Ser
pentine pavilion offers a mo
ment of enjoyment, calm, reflec
tion, and something to remem
ber, its British Bangladeshi de
signer has said.
A Capsule in Time was de
signed by architect and educator
Marina Tabassum and her firm,
Marina
Tabassum
Architects
(MTA) in a first for a south Asian.
It was opened on June 6 and
this marked the 25th anniversary
of the pavilion commission.
“I feel very honoured we were
given the opportunity to design
the 25th anniversary Serpentine
Pavilion,” Tabassum told Eastern
Eye. “Within the architecture
community, the pavilion is a well-
regarded commission, and we al
ways look forward to seeing who
will design the next one. Each
edition brings something inter
esting to Kensington Gardens. So,
when we received the commis
sion, it was truly exciting, and we
felt very honoured.”
Based in Dhaka, Marina Tabas
sum Architects was founded in
2005. It focuses on combining
research and teaching, and it
also invests in understanding
the impacts of climate change
in Bangladesh, while collaborat
ing with geographers, landscape
architects, planners and other al
lied professionals.
The selection for the Serpentine
Pavilion is typically based on an
invitation-only competition, with
a small number of architects asked
to submit design proposals.
Tabassum said, “When the
commission came, I wanted it
to reflect my background,
ethos and understanding of
the
Bengal
region.
I
brought in several ele
ments. One is the tempo
rality of the Bengal Delta,
the fluid relationship
between water and
land, where people
often move from
place to place, set
ting up new homes
every few years.
“The idea of tem
porary architecture is
embedded in the
delta. The Serpentine Pavilion it
self is a temporary structure,
which I found an interesting par
allel. Also, in the subtropics, ar
chitecture tends to be open and
pavilion-like to allow light and air
– that’s something I’ve worked
with throughout my career.
“Another reference was the
shamiana – a fabric pavilion used
for weddings and gatherings in
south Asia. While we couldn’t use
fabric due to durability concerns,
we used a translucent material to
create a similar atmospheric light
– an abstract way of representing
that feeling.”
She added, “When conceiving
our design, we reflected on the
transient nature of the commis
sion which appears to us as a
capsule of memory and time. The
relationship between time and ar
chitecture is intriguing: between
permanence and impermanence,
of birth, age and ruin; architecture
aspires to outlive time. Architec
ture is a tool to live beyond lega
cies, fulfilling the inherent human
desire for continuity after life.”
Tabassum explained why she
chose wood for the commission.
“Wood could be locally sourced,
and construction teams in London
are familiar with timber structures.
In Bangladesh, we don’t usually
build with wood because of the
climate; we use brick and other
materials,” she said. “Also, this pa
vilion will be here for about five
months, after which it will likely
be sold and relocated, either with
in the UK or abroad. Wood was a
suitable choice as it allows for dis
mantling and reassembly.”
Built around a semi-mature
Ginkgo tree, Tabassum wanted to
bring a bit of the park into the
structure. It has an open court
yard, and the tree represents na
ture flowing through the architec
ture, she said.
“We chose the Ginkgo for many
reasons – it’s one of the oldest
living tree species, it’s resilient,
and it absorbs pollution. It also
turns a golden colour in October,
offering a poetic farewell as the
pavilion’s time ends. Afterward,
the tree will be planted in the
park, creating continuity of the
pavilion,” she added.
Blending design, culture and
adaptability, the pavilion reflects
Tabassum’s south Asian roots
while inviting visitors to reflect
on time, memory, and space.
There is a dedicated library
area with works by south Asian
authors, including Ben
gali literature and
writings by Amitav Ghosh and Ma
hasweta Devi, among others,
within the structure.
Tabassum said this was incorpo
rated to share a sense of heritage
with the world. “The idea is that
visitors can open a book and learn
something about where we come
from – the richness of our cultural
and literary traditions,” she said.
This library, however, is not just
symbolic. When the pavilion is
eventually relocated, Tabassum
envisions it will continue as a
functioning library. The space,
with its serene atmosphere and
filtered natural light, has been de
scribed by the architect as resem
bling a “temple of knowledge,”
where the experience of reading
and quiet thought becomes part
of the architecture itself.
The 2024 pavilion is also con
ceived as a “capsule in time” – a
structure designed to hold the
memories and moments it wit
nesses during its five-month life
in Kensington Gardens.
Tabassum drew parallels with
traditional time capsules, where
artefacts from a particular period
are sealed and stored to be discov
ered in the distant future.
While the pavilion will not be
buried, she believes the collective
experiences held within its walls
– from public gatherings to soli
tary reflection – will live on, both
digitally and emotionally.
“It may not remain here physi
cally, but the feelings and stories it
holds will endure – perhaps on
line, perhaps in the minds of
those who visit,” she said.
Adaptability is a central theme,
too. The structure will be disman
tled and likely rebuilt elsewhere
after the summer. This ensures it
doesn’t end up in landfill but con
tinues life in a new context, Tabas
sum said.
According to the architect, visi
tors are encouraged to engage
with the space in their own way –
through quiet contemplation,
reading, social gatherings, or sim
ply enjoying coffee or ice cream
from the adjoining café. The
structure is open to all, with seat
ing placed throughout to encour
age pause and presence.
She added, “The Serpentine Pa
vilion offers a place where people
of diverse backgrounds, ages and
cultures can come together under
one roof and call for action, facili
tating dialogues that expand our
boundaries of tolerance and re
spect.
We
envision
various
events and encounters occurring
in this versatile space that uni
fies people through conversations
and connections.”
Tabassum said the ultimate
takeaway is memory, the quiet
moments and shared experiences
that the space fosters.
“It’s about being part of some
thing that exists for just a moment,
but stays with you long after.”
n The Serpentine Pavilion 2025, A
Capsule in Time will remain open
until October 26.
First Asian-designed Serpentine
pavilion unites culture and nature
ARCHITECT TABASSUM USES TRANSLUCENT MATERIAL FOR LIGHT AND ADDS LIBRARY
23
News
Instagram.com/easterneyenews/ • www.easterneye.biz • July 4, 2025
TRANSITORY HAVEN:
Marina Tabassum;
and (above) A
Capsule in Time
© Asif-Salman