A disappointment and a delight

I thought I would have a break from posting on Amsterdam, (which we visited at the end of June), and on Greece (which is where we are at present) and write about a day we spent in London in July.

The purpose of the visit was to go to The Serpentine Gallery to see Marina Abramovic. When we got there however, we found out to our great disappointment that the gallery was closed on that day. We wandered around Kensington Gardens instead, and had lunch at The Magazine, Zaha Hadid's new extension of the Serpentine, and that was the delight.

 

It was a gorgeous, sunny day, so wandering around the park was lovely.

 

 

 

We particularly enjoyed the Italian Garden

 



 

 

and its fountains

 

 



 

but also the reflections in the Round Pond.

 



 

 

 

This white arch looked familiar, we had seen one like it at Compton Verney so we assumed that it's by Henry Moore.

 



 

 

 

First stop, the Serpentine, but it was closed for two days, lots of scaffolding, so no point in taking a photograph

 



 

 

 

Next, we crossed the bridge, and arrived at the Serpentine Sackler gallery, the 1805 brick gunpowder storage building on the right, and the new linked pavilion designed by Zaha Hadid on the left.

 

 

 

 

The elegant roof is made from PTFE-coated glass-fibre woven fabric, its super-smooth moulded look a complete contrast to the brickwork of the 19th century building

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's a wondrous place - there is a lightness to the whole building as if it's about to float away

 

 

 

 

 

the brick of the old building is in contrast to the smoothness of the new, but they complement each other beautifully

as do the sculpted columns with their smooth moulded surface

but the wonder is seeing the columns as you walk in - it's like liquid light pouring down from the ceiling on to the floor

it is truly awesome

Some of the critics have been really scathing about the extension, and I really cannot understand it.

 

 

Being in there was a real experience: it's light (some critics said they found it dark!), airy, architecturally interesting,

but even if it was none of the above, just that light pouring in, is enough - it's stunning





 

 

flowing, organic forms

 

looking out

 

 

  

flowers on the tables in Alvar Aalto vases.

 

 

Finally, the washrooms are cutting edge as well - hot air came out of the Dyson taps after we had washed our hands.