Making a mountain out of the Serpentine

Whether or not faith can move mountains, art, it seems, can at least build them.

A 75ft temporary peak is set to be constructed on top of the Serpentine Gallery. Dutch architects MVRDV suggest their 200-ton, grass-covered creation will resemble Tracey Island from Thunderbirds or Blofeld's secret base in You Only Live Twice.

Winy Maas from the architecture firm said: "There will be lots of artificial light, an artificial sky and light cones - a huge one at the tip like a volcano and smaller ones on the side."

Fenced staircases will allow access to the top of "Mt Serpentine".

Gallery director Julia Peyton-Jones said: "It is really audacious, really amazing and really grand." This summer there was no Serpentine temporary pavilion - a regular fixture - as the gallery hatched its plan.

Ms Peyton-Jones did not reveal the cost of the mountain - which the gallery hopes will be met by private sponsorship.

Giles Worsley, the Daily Telegraph architecture critic and a member of the Diana Memorial Committee who voted for the illfated fountain in Hyde Park, today described the scheme as "a wild, thrilling, slightly bonkers idea".

Evening Standard critic and Architecture Foundation chief Rowan Moore said: "MVRDV are a very good choice. They are one of the most exciting practices of their generation."