A material that runs throughout the entire underground space of the Pavilion, cork was chosen for its ability to enhance the acoustics of the area and for its distinctive sensory characteristics, both in terms of touch and smell, as confirmed by Herzog and de Meuron: “It is smooth and warm to the touch, has a very characteristic scent, and can be molded into different geometries.”
At the inauguration, António Rios de Amorim, President of Corticeira Amorim, expressed his satisfaction with the prominence that cork assumes in this iconic project of global architecture, stating that this usage is expected to lead to greater international recognition for cork, a raw material that we strive to elevate every day.
The Pavilion, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei, presents itself as a cork lounge in a circular shape, featuring a complex multi-level structure, where 108 pieces of expanded cork aggregate furniture proliferate, specifically designed by Ai Weiwei and Herzog and de Meuron for this purpose and handcrafted by Amorim Isolamentos technicians, under the supervision of the architectural team.
The Serpentine Pavilion 2012 has already been purchased by the renowned international collectors Usha and Lakshmi N. Mittal and will join their private collection starting October 14th.
