In the renders it looks like someone's experimented with a packet of jelly babies in a microwave. In real life, this year's Serpentine Pavilion is even more colourful, like someone's held a paint fight in Timmy Mallett's wardrobe.
Every year, Serpentine Galleries invites a new architect to design a temporary event space, which then lurks outside for the duration of the summer. This year's choice is the SelgasCano studio from Madrid, fronted by José Selgas and Lucía Cano.
It's a blast. And almost impossible to describe. Imagine that someone announced an amnesty for 1980s shell suits, then stitched them all together into a gaudy canvas igloo. Then stuck a coffee bar in the corner. Press morning was one of the greyest this month. Yet inside the coruscating tent, all is bright. We couldn't spot any artificial lighting — the structure seems to phosphoresce.
As ever, the Pavilion is not simply an eye-catching bauble. Over selected Fridays throughout the summer, it will play host to a programme of 'Park Nights' events, featuring talks and performances (good luck finding them on the over-designed website). The series begins with a prelude tomorrow (23 June), celebrating 15 years of the pavilion commission.
As a space to walk around, we'd rate this year's pavilion as the best for some time. It's quite simply a big bag of fun, and much less po-faced than many of its predecessors. You might want to wear shades on the sunniest days, however.
The Serpentine Pavilion is open from 25 June to 18 October 2015. Entrance is free.
