Black Chapel, Serpentine Pavilion
There’s a fine line between combining natural beauty and dramatic architecture. Chicago-based artist, Theaster Gates has achieved the perfect sense of equilibrium with Black Chapel Serpentine Pavilion. It’s clear to see that Gates found inspiration from various architectural structures around the world; from the bottle kilns of Stoke-on-Trent, to the Musgum mud huts of Cameroon to various others.
Set within the grounds of Kensington Gardens, Black Chapel is a place for contemplation. The building allows a single source of light in to create a sanctuary for meditation, shelter and reflection. As part of Serpentine’s vibrant summer programme, the Pavilion becomes a platform for public convenings and live performances.
Structural Design
With a diameter of 16 metres and a height of 10.7 metres, the 201-square-metre cylindrical building is the largest Serpentine Pavilion to date! The towering cylindrical pavilion was constructed largely from blackened timber joists with a plywood skin, topped with a spoke wheel timber and steel hybrid roof. The structure is fully demountable and can be relocated!
ATOL Construction’s team was instructed to offer their knowledge and application of fire retardant treatment to the Black Chapel structure. ATOL is a UK leading fire protection organisation that prides itself on the application of fire protection knowledge at scale, UK wide. ATOL advised and used Eco-Sol Flametect C-WD+ onto the bare wood before the application of Osmo Garden Colour 7505 Jet Black.
A Water Based Finish
Osmo Garden Colour is a water based finish, with low-VOC’s, extremely weather-resistant and UV-stable. Providing an opaque satin wood finish for the exterior. This product is breathable, water repellent, and once dry is safe for humans, animals and plants.
Making it the ideal finish for not only large architectural structures, such as Black Chapel, but for domestic use too. Garden Colour is Osmo UK’s first exterior water-based product. We are excited to dive into the sea of water-based products and discover the many more projects where Garden Colour is utilised.
For more information about Garden Colour, head over the the product page or contact the Osmo Advice Team directly on 01296 481220.
