“A Capsule in Time” by Marina Tabassum
Serpentine Pavilion 2025: “A Capsule in Time” by Marina Tabassum
In 2025, the Serpentine Pavilion, one of London’s most anticipated architectural events, will feature the visionary architect Marina Tabassum with her project “A Capsule in Time.” This pavilion embodies a fusion of the temporary and the permanent, reflecting the architect’s sensitive, contextual approach. It blends modernity with local tradition, climate, and culture. Her participation in this prestigious event marks another milestone in her international career, following numerous accolades, including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2016 for the Bait ur Rouf Mosque.
Deeply Rooted Architecture
Marina Tabassum is known for her unique approach to architecture. Every project is a precise and sensitive response to its cultural, climatic, and historical context. For Tabassum, architecture should never be an abstract entity. It should allow people to feel connected to the place they inhabit. Her signature style is characterized by spaces that tell stories through forms, materials, and light. The Serpentine Pavilion, with its evocative title “A Capsule in Time,” is no exception. It integrates into the Kensington Gardens context while transforming the space and perception of time.
“A Capsule in Time”: A Dynamic and Sensory Project
The design for 2025 features four wooden capsules arranged along a north-south axis. These capsules create a fluid space, capable of adapting and transforming over time. The modular structures have a translucent facade that gently filters natural light. It creates play between shadows and reflections, enriching the sensory experience for visitors. The concept of “kinetic architecture” is central to the project. One of the capsules is movable, altering the pavilion’s arrangement and reinventing the space. This invites the visitor to rediscover it in a new light.
The inspiration for this project comes from the tradition of arched garden canopies. These natural structures, like bamboo awnings, allow light to penetrate through the foliage. This creates an atmosphere that unites the natural world with the built environment. With “A Capsule in Time,” Tabassum brings this language into a contemporary context. Here, the architectural vocabulary of South Asian Shamiyana tents meets the modernity of an interactive, dynamic design.
A Transformative Vision: Architecture’s Role in Society
Beyond her career as an architect, Marina Tabassum plays a fundamental role in promoting a more inclusive and sustainable vision of architecture. She is the founder of Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA). Her studio has always prioritized research on climate change and the social impact of its projects. Tabassum focuses on marginalized communities, aiming to improve living conditions and ensure dignified housing in challenging contexts. This is particularly true in the outskirts of major Bangladeshi cities.
Architecture for All: MTA’s Philosophy
MTA’s work is deeply rooted in context and stands in contrast to global architecture, which is often indifferent to the specific place in which it is built. Every project is carefully conceived to respond to the unique needs of a site, culture, and community. This approach has earned Marina Tabassum numerous prestigious awards and international recognition. She won the Aga Khan Award and was included in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024.
Tradition Becoming Future
The pavilion designed for the Serpentine Pavilion is not just a work of architecture. It is an opportunity to reflect on how architecture can be more sensitive and closely connected to society’s context and needs. Through her vision, Marina Tabassum invites us to consider architecture not only as art but as a means of improving people’s daily lives. With “A Capsule in Time,” the light filtering through the wooden capsules becomes a symbol of profound change. It unites past, present, and future.
The Serpentine Pavilion 2025 by Marina Tabassum promises to be one of the most captivating editions in the event’s history. It marks a significant step in the career of one of the most relevant and innovative architects on the international scene. It represents a meeting of cultural sensitivity, social commitment, and design innovation that will leave a lasting mark on the history of architecture.
The Official site of Serpentine Pavilion: https://www.serpentinegalleries.org
