Each year since 2014, the Naomi Milgrom Foundation – a supporter of arts, design and architecture, has commissioned an architect to design a pavilion that hosts a free program of cultural events in the heart of Melbourne’s city from November to March. At the season’s close, the MPavilion is gifted to the people of Victoria and relocated to a new permanent home, where the community can access it. MPavilion is Australia’s leading architecture commission and community-focused structure.
In 2019 the pavilion, located in the Queen Victoria Gardens, was designed by renowned Australian architect Glenn Murcutt AO. Paying homage to the memory of a light aircraft’s wing, the structure was positioned to take advantage of the river views and city skyline.
The pavilion comprises an elegant tensile structure supported by meticulously detailed steelwork, covered in tensioned translucent fabric and at night, the buoyant white roof is lit from within. Responding to the pavilion’s surroundings and Melbourne’s climate, the south elevation is fitted with retractable fabric blinds providing a level of wind protection when required.
Murcutt incorporated climate-responsive architectural design with a distinctively Australian character while prioritising prospect, refuge, and the client’s program. Consideration of disassembly and reassembly of the structure was paramount to ensure it could be easily relocated to its new, permanent site at the end of its season.
MPavilion was gifted to the people of Victoria and moved to its permanent home at the University of Melbourne to be engaged by the community for years to come. AECOM shares the Naomi Milgrom Foundation’s passion for the importance of architecture and design in our community.
Image: John Gollings
Services
AECOM is a proud MPavilion partner providing structural, facades and fire engineering services and advice to the design team.
Architect: Glenn Murcutt AO
Specialist tensile roof fabric advisor: Temple Architecture
Builders: Kane Constructions
Building Surveyors: Gardner Group
Lighting Designers: Bluebottle in collaboration with JSB Lighting
Visual Identity: Studio Ongarato.
Awards
Winner: Good Design Awards Gold Accolade in the ‘Architectural Design – Urban Design and Public Spaces’ category
Shortlisted: World Architecture News Award 2020 in the ‘Small Spaces’ category
Shortlisted: INDE.awards in ‘The Influencer’ category
Finalist: Design Anthology Awards 2020 in the ‘Cultural, Art & Educational Spaces’ category Watch the video