Serpentine Gallery

Located in Kensington Gardens, the Serpentine Gallery is one of London’s most visited contemporary art spaces, hosting major exhibitions and events throughout the year.

The brief called for a temporary tensile structure to act as the centrepiece for the gallery’s Summer Party, an event known for its architectural ambition and creative expression. The installation needed to deliver strong visual impact while remaining lightweight, elegant and appropriate for its setting within a historic park landscape.

Beyond aesthetics, the structure had to be efficiently fabricated and installed within a tight programme, ensuring readiness for a fixed, high-profile event.

We were commissioned to pattern, manufacture and install a unique tensile fabric installation based on a design by Zaha Hadid Architects.  

The structure comprises three identical tensile fabric parasols arranged around a central point, forming a unified composition approximately 5.5 metres in height. The surface design, featuring the distinctive “Lilas” leaf and petal pattern, adds a layer of visual complexity, reinforcing the fluid, organic language associated with Hadid’s work.

Each element was carefully engineered to maintain its sculptural form while remaining lightweight and efficient to install. The repetition of identical components allowed for precision fabrication and streamlined assembly, supporting the project’s tight delivery timeframe.

The completed structure provided a striking focal point for the Serpentine Gallery’s Summer Party, enhancing the event through its sculptural presence and interaction with light and movement.

The project highlights Base Structures’ ability to collaborate with leading architects on design-led installations, translating complex visual ideas into buildable, high-performance structures, delivered with precision, even under very demanding timelines.