Each year, the Serpentine Galleries in London commission a leading architect to design a new temporary summer pavilion in Kensington Gardens. The installation usually runs from June to October. Sometimes it then travels around the world, as was the case with Unzipped Toronto (Bjarke Ingels).

Now in its 20th year, the Serpentine Pavilion is a tradition that started in 2000 with a building by architect Zaha Hadid. (There was no pavilion last summer because of COVID.) And as I understand it, the commission is usually awarded to an architect who has not yet completed a building in England.

This year's pavilion will open to the public on June 11. Designed by Sumayya Vally of Counterspace, the pavilion is intended to be a "puzzle of many different [historic] elements." See video above. Vally also happens to be the youngest ever architect to be commissioned by the Serpentine Gallery.

Architecture tends to take a long time. The Serpentine Pavilion happens much faster and happens every year (when there isn't a pandemic). This strikes me as a very good thing for the world of architecture. I think we should do something similar -- but of course better -- here in Toronto.

Candace Taylor published an article today in the WSJ about the late Zaha Hadid's One Thousand Museum tower in downtown Miami. The title: "Zaha Hadid’s Miami Tower Is an Architectural Feat. Is It Designed to Sell?"

It's an interesting case study, particularly for those of us in the industry. With only 84 units across 62 storeys, it is certainly "ultraluxury." There's also a helipad on the roof. Here is an excerpt from the article to give you a sense of the unit sizes:

Louis Birdman, one of the project’s developers, said prices, which range from just under $5 million to $25 million, are negotiable. Each floor has only one or two units, ranging in size from about 4,600 square feet to 10,400 square feet and each has at least four bedrooms. “Given what’s going on in the market now, I think all of us developers are competing for a similar buyer, so there’s obviously flexibility on price,” he said.

As you can probably glean from the above, the ultraluxury market has softened in Miami. But Candace is right: One Thousand Museum is an architectural masterpiece. If you're in the market for a new four bedroom home in downtown Miami, now may be right time.

This is last year's news and some of you may have already seen it, but here is a video of Zaha Hadid's only completed private residence:

It was built in the Barvikha Forest near Moscow. The client, Vladislav Doronin, is a real estate developer. He owns/runs Capital Group, OKO Group, and Aman. Zaha used to call him the Russian James Bond.

The central idea behind the house is the raised master bedroom suite. Vladislav wanted to wake up and only see trees and sky. And so Zaha raised the bedroom 22m above grade.

Look at it in section (those stairs!):

It wouldn't be my first choice, but I can appreciate its boldness. What are your thoughts on this house?

Image: Dezeen