Ai Weiwei designs on the Serpentine, from afar

The Chinese artist, under house arrest in Beijing in connection with tax evasion charges, has nevertheless lent his creative hand to design a summer pavilion for London's Serpentine Gallery.

Ai spent hours on his computer with a Swiss architect, chatting and speaking via Skype to refine their plan, but he will almost assuredly miss seeing his pavilion in person, since it closes in October.

Over a spotty Skype line from China, Ai told Al Jazeera that he wants to design buildings in a way that makes visitors look at buildings differently.

Al Jazeera's Jessica Baldwin reports from London.