wienerberger champions innovative design at the 2026 Serpentine Pavilion with brick contribution

Throughout its history, the Serpentine Pavilion has grown into a highly anticipated showcase for emerging talents. The Pavilion has evolved over the years as a participatory public and artistic platform for Serpentine’s experimental, interdisciplinary, community and education programmes. LANZA atelier’s Pavilion will be unveiled to the public at Serpentine South on 6 June 2026 with Goldman Sachs supporting the annual project for the 12th consecutive year.

For this year’s Serpentine Pavilion, LANZA atelier took its inspiration from the English architecture feature known as a serpentine or crinkle-crankle wall which forms one side of the pavilion. This type of brick wall, composed of alternating curves, originated in ancient Egypt and was later introduced to England by Dutch engineers. Its curvilinear form provides stability through lateral support, meaning the one-brick-wide serpentine wall requires fewer bricks than a straight wall. The eponymous feature also subtly nods to the nearby Serpentine lake, named for its gentle curvature, evoking the form of a serpent.

LANZA atelier chose brick as the primary material to celebrate the distinctly English garden tradition and establish a conversation with the existing brick façade of the Serpentine South Gallery, once a tea pavilion itself.

wienerberger’s brick donation reflects the company’s commitment to celebrating architectural innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainable building materials. The Sienna Red bricks supplied for the Pavilion are produced at wienerberger’s Ewhurst factory in Surrey - one of the largest brick manufacturing facilities in the South East, combining modern production with a rich heritage of clay craftmanship spanning more than 100 years.

Regarding their choice of materials, Isabel Abascal of LANZA atelier remarked:  “We wanted to use a red standard brick that is available for everybody in the UK. In the case of wienerberger’s Sienna Red brick it comes with scores that are used for letting the cement in easily and that usually remain hidden. However, we wanted to take advantage of the beautiful relief the scores create to add texture to our walls by flip flopping the bricks so that one horizontal line of bricks has scores and the next one doesn't.  The built-in furniture, such as the café bar and public bench, is also created by stacking bricks to demonstrate the versatility of the module. We try to focus on one primary material for each project, to explore all possible uses.  We are especially grateful to Dave Henry at wienerberger, for having supported us with his great knowledge of ceramic materials during the drafting of our proposal.”

Dave Henry, Head of Sales - Construction at wienerberger UK & Ireland, said:  “We are delighted to support the 2026 Serpentine Pavilion, especially in such a landmark year for the commission. Brick is a material deeply embedded in the architectural fabric of the UK, and we are proud that wienerberger’s products will help give shape to a structure that celebrates creativity, craft, and the power of public spaces. LANZA atelier’s vision beautifully captures the timeless versatility of brick, and we look forward to seeing the Pavilion come to life this summer.”

To explore wienerberger’s comprehensive portfolio of brick products, as well as innovative solutions for walls, roofs, heating, and water management, please visit www.wienerberger.co.uk