A Capsule in Time: Marina Tabassum’s Serpentine Pavilion 2025
Opening 6 June 2025, A Capsule in Time marks the 25th Serpentine Pavilion and is designed by acclaimed Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum. Known for work rooted in climate, culture, and place, Tabassum brings a meditative and sensory approach to this year’s commission.
Serpentine Pavilion 2025 designed by Marina Tabassum, Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA). Design render, exterior view. Photo © Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA) Courtesy: Serpentine
The Pavilion features four wooden capsule-like forms with translucent façades that filter light, creating an interplay of shadow and stillness. A kinetic element allows one of the structures to move and transform the space, echoing the fleeting nature of the installation.
At its heart stands a semi-mature Ginkgo tree—an ancient, climate-resilient species that will be replanted in Kensington Gardens after the Pavilion closes in October. Tabassum’s vision is one of reflection, resilience, and community.
Marina Tabassum. Photo: © Asif Salman
Built-in bookshelves will house a curated selection celebrating Bengali literature, ecology, and design—offering visitors a space to gather, read, and connect. As always, the Serpentine Pavilion is more than structure: it’s a space for ideas.