Serpentine Gallery 2012

London is in the air whether it's the Festival of Architecture, the Cultural Olympiad or the Sports Olympiad.

This year, Herzog & de Meuron together with Ai Weiwei have unearthed the 11 ghosts of the Kensington Gardens pavilions. "A pit and a disk in dialog at the Serpentine Gallery, all smelling of sustainability," wrote the British critics. For the past 12 years, the world's leading architects have taken up the challenge and volunteered their time, with producers donating materials, so that between June 1 and October 14, 2012, 800,000 visitors can enjoy the inventiveness of contemporary architecture.

This year's temporary structure is a buried, cork-lined amphitheatre created by superimposing the footprints of the recreated foundations of the 11 previous pavilions. "All the pavilions taken together create beautiful objects and spaces. In the beginning, we didn't have much, but now it looks almost cubist," says Jacques Herzog. The platform roof supported by 12 columns partially overlaps the buried structure. The space is open, transformable and reconfigurable. Tables and stools in the shape of champagne corks are also made of cork and can be moved. Cork is a sustainable material chosen for its unique qualities.

The shapes, lines and texture of the pavilion are conceptual, soft and have a strong visual impact. Designed for relaxation, to offer new experiences, children were the first to conquer the place, running and rolling around freely. Perhaps because everything is more tactile, both adults and children love the space.

Once dismantled, the pavilion will go into the private collection of tycoon Lakshmi Mittal.

www.serpentinegallery.org