London’s Serpentine Galleries and the LEGO Group have unveiled the Play Pavilion, an audacious public commission by legendary British architect Sir Peter Cook. Opened on World Play Day (June 11, 2025) at Serpentine South in Kensington Gardens, this immersive, interactive structure reimagines urban play as architectural spectacle. Designed as a vibrant “piece of theatre,” the pavilion merges Cook’s radical design philosophy with LEGO’s ethos of creative experimentation.
Featuring pierced walls, mysterious openings, and unexpected slides, the pavilion invites visitors into a three-dimensional exploration of imagination. Cook describes it as a realm that “transcends survival, achievement, and common sense,” where children crawl through ground-level holes or emerge from slides, subverting conventional entrances. LEGO bricks are integrated into the design, amplifying its tactile, rebuildable spirit. The collaboration extends Serpentine’s mission to democratize art beyond gallery walls, creating free, community-focused experiences in public space.
Bettina Korek (Serpentine CEO) and Hans Ulrich Obrist (Artistic Director) emphasized the project’s tribute to Zaha Hadid, who envisioned a Cook-Serpentine collaboration: “His radical philosophy aligns with her belief that ‘there should be no end to experimentation’.” Julia Goldin (LEGO Group CMO) added: “Play fosters connection and encourages exploration—we’re thrilled to bring this joy to London’s iconic park.”
Cook—a Royal Gold Medal recipient and co-founder of the avant-garde Archigram collective—is renowned for unrealized visions like the Plug-In City (1963–66) and built landmarks like Austria’s Kunsthaus Graz. The pavilion, developed with CONSUL and engineering firms Stage One and AECOM, continues his lifelong defiance of architectural norms.
© Peter Cook (Peter Cook Studio Crablab). Courtesy Serpentine
Open until August 10, 2025, the pavilion will host live summer activations, reinforcing play as vital cultural practice. Partners include Thorn Advisors and Bloomberg Philanthropies. This project follows Serpentine’s recent community initiatives, like the Bethnal Green basketball court co-created with Alvaro Barrington.
For more on Serpentine’s 2025 programming, explore our coverage of Marina Tabassum’s newly revealed Serpentine Pavilion, embodying climate-responsive design.