MPavilion celebrates 10th year in Melbourne with a contemplative architecture by Tadao Ando

Tadao Ando’s first project in Australia serves as a dynamic rendezvous point for the five-month design festival until March 28, 2024

Self-taught Osaka-born architect Tadao Ando has designed a memorable structure for MPavilion, the flagship initiative of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation and one of Australia’s most anticipated design festivals that has attracted over 1.2 million visitors since its inception in 2014.

MPavilion 10, Ando’s first ever project in Australia, reflects his masterful conceptions of minimalist geometric interventions against light, shadow and water elements. It serves as the meeting place for the five-month design festival from November 16 to March 28, 2024, hosting a myriad of more than 150 creative and cultural events open to the public and free to attend.

Above Tadao Ando has designed a contemplative spot and a temporary refuge from the bustle of the city

“I am honoured to have created a piece of living architecture that will have such an important role in the cultural life of Melbourne this summer,” says the 1995 Pritzker Prize winner. “I hope that as people visit, they allow this space to enter their hearts, and allow their senses to tune into the light and breeze interacting with them and this space. I hope for them an experience of harmony with nature, with themselves, and with others.”

Above MPavilion 10, designed by Pritzer Prize winner and architect, Tadao Ando

Situated at the Queen Victoria Gardens, within Melbourne’s cultural and botanic garden precinct, the pavilion features a large canopy with a 14.4-metre aluminium-clad disc on a central concrete column.

Concrete walls of varying lengths partially enclose the space to create a tranquil sanctuary reminiscent of a traditional Japanese walled garden, with two offset squares serving as entrances into the centre of the pavilion.

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Photo 1 of 2 MPavilion 10, designed by Pritzer Prize winner and architect, Tadao Ando

Photo 2 of 2 MPavilion 10, designed by Pritzer Prize winner and architect, Tadao Ando

A long horizontal opening across the north and south walls, measuring almost 17 metres by 225 metres, frames views of downtown Melbourne and the parklands, building a dialogue between the city and the lush greenery of the Gardens and MPavilion 10’s interior.

A half-paved internal arrangement reinforced Ando’s geometric forms and symmetry, with the pool half-reflecting the pavilion canopy, sky, city and surrounding nature for locals and visitors who visit the space to debate how architecture, art and design can change lives.

“Tadao Ando has designed a new, iconic destination in Melbourne, one that will serve as both a contemplative spot, a temporary refuge from the bustle of the city, and as a dynamic site for creative discovery and vigorous discussion for those attending our public program,” comments Naomi Milgrom AC, MPavilion Commissioner and founder of the not-for-profit organisation.

Photo 1 of 2 MPavilion 10, designed by Pritzer Prize winner and architect, Tadao Ando

Photo 2 of 2 MPavilion 10, designed by Pritzer Prize winner and architect, Tadao Ando

At the end of the festival, Ando’s architectural structure, like its MPavilion predecessors, will be relocated to a permanent home in the community, where it can remain as a catalyst for conversation with the people of Victoria.

Each year, MPavilion commissions architects from around the world to design the principal venue for the festival, such as Rachaporn Choochuey from Thailand last year and Italian architects Francesco Magnani and Traudy Pelzel from MAP Studio the year before.

The architecture commission initiative has won or been shortlisted for 69 national and international architecture and design awards thus far, including the Good Design Awards, International Architecture Awards and Architizer A+Awards.

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Credits

Photography

John Gollings / Courtesy of MPavilion

Topics

architecture & design Tadao Ando MPavilion Melbourne Australia

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