# Sculptural Timber Gathering Spaces Lina Ghotmeh Designs the 2023 Serpentine Pavilion By Kalin Ned | Published 2023-06-05 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gathering-space References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2023/06/05/serpentine-pavilion-2023-revealed-lina-ghotmeh/)  The 2023 Serpentine Pavilion is a gathering space "for exchange and celebration." The design speaks to the need for authentic building connections in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the throws of the digital age. Located in London's Kensington Garden, the [gathering space pavilion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tess-pavilion) will open to the public on June 9th. The piece was designed by the French-Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh. The structure of this year's pavilion employs [timber as the main material](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pujiang-platform-hill) and boasts an intricate silhouette that piques curiosity. When designing the piece, the architect drew inspiration from the [silhouettes of tree leaves](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/srivan) and more notably, the microscopic image of a leaf. A "concentric table" is located inside the structure, encouraging people to gather around it. This is why Lina Ghotmeh names the 2023 Serpentine Pavilion 'À table.' Image Credit: Iwan Baan, courtesy of Serpentine Galleries ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.9/10 - Popularity: 10% | Activity: 1% | Freshness: 16% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Timber Gathering Pavilions:** Designing gathering spaces with an emphasis on natural materials such as timber and promoting sustainability and nature-inspired design. - **Authentic Building Connections:** Creating social spaces that emphasize human connections and encourage interactivity, in response to the isolation brought on by COVID-19 and growing dependence on digital communication. - **Microscopic-inspired Architecture:** Drawing inspiration from the natural world at a microscopic level to design intricate and visually striking structures that reflect the beauty of nature. ### Who This Affects Most - **Architecture Design:** The construction and design of innovative gathering spaces using natural materials to encourage social connections for post-COVID-19 events. - **Urban Planning:** Designing public spaces and city architecture to promote human connections and interaction, using nature-inspired design to create unique and beautiful cityscapes. - **Sustainability:** Incorporating sustainable practices in building design, construction, and materials to promote environmental conservation and reduce carbon footprint. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Segmented Lightflow Art Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-capsule-in-time.md) - [Mushroom-Like Wooden Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carbon-garden-pavilion.md) - [Star-Shaped Structural Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/archipelagic-void.md) - [A-Frame Timber Wooden Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dalston-pavilion.md) - [Timber Modern Porch Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/porch-an-architecture-of-generosity.md) - [Community Hub Timber Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/craft-not-carbon.md) - [Living Structure-Based Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/canada-pavilion.md) - [Hidden Garden Timber Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-room-around-a-tree.md) - [Rocky Garden-Nestled Serene Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-3to1-pavilion.md)