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Collection by Brian Bruegge

Smiljan Radic's Winning Design for Serpentine Pavilion

Underrated Chilean architect Smiljan Radic gets a commission that will put him on the world stage: the annual temporary pavilion for the Serpentine Gallery in London. Here are a few other notable projects from the up-and-coming architect.

If you had never heard of Smiljan Radic prior last week’s announcement of his design for London’s Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, you weren’t alone. Though Radic has done little work outside of his home country of Chile, his designs show a penchant for experimentation, while remaining sensitive to the practical needs of the project and the surrounding environment. As the architect of the fourteenth pavilion to be built for the gallery since 2000, Radic joins the likes of Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Sou Fujimoto, and other prominent practitioners who have tackled the prestigious design challenge previously.

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At night, the semi-translucent sphere will give off a soft light, providing the lawn with a warm, inviting ambience. Image courtesy of Smiljan Radic Studio.
At night, the semi-translucent sphere will give off a soft light, providing the lawn with a warm, inviting ambience. Image courtesy of Smiljan Radic Studio.
Inside houses a cafe and multi purpose social space, which will also host special events throughout the summer. The pavilion’s dynamic shape invites visitors to move through the space, revealing its changing form. Image courtesy of Smiljan Radic Studio.
Inside houses a cafe and multi purpose social space, which will also host special events throughout the summer. The pavilion’s dynamic shape invites visitors to move through the space, revealing its changing form. Image courtesy of Smiljan Radic Studio.
Other notable projects of Radic’s include the Copper House 2, completed in Talca, Chile in 2005. The house uses textured sheets of copper for its exterior, and takes many of its design cues from other structures in the surrounding area. Photo by Cristobal Palma.
Other notable projects of Radic’s include the Copper House 2, completed in Talca, Chile in 2005. The house uses textured sheets of copper for its exterior, and takes many of its design cues from other structures in the surrounding area. Photo by Cristobal Palma.
The Pite House takes advantage of its stunning cliffside location, blending into the setting with large windows, open floor plans, and cantilevered pool which reaches towards the water below. Photo by Cristobal Palma.
The Pite House takes advantage of its stunning cliffside location, blending into the setting with large windows, open floor plans, and cantilevered pool which reaches towards the water below. Photo by Cristobal Palma.
The Mestizo Restaurant in Santiago consists of enormous black concrete beams supported by granite shapes of varying sizes. The project was the winner a public competition held by the municipality to create a restaurant for the northeast end of Las Americas Park in Santiago. Photo by Gonzalo Puga.
The Mestizo Restaurant in Santiago consists of enormous black concrete beams supported by granite shapes of varying sizes. The project was the winner a public competition held by the municipality to create a restaurant for the northeast end of Las Americas Park in Santiago. Photo by Gonzalo Puga.
You can see Chilean architect Smiljan Radic's finished 2014 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London from June 26 to October 14. Photo by Hisao Suzuki.
You can see Chilean architect Smiljan Radic's finished 2014 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London from June 26 to October 14. Photo by Hisao Suzuki.