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.
After the success of Glen Murcutt’s 2019 pavilion, AECOM proudly continued our partnership with MPavilion, to provide engineering services for the 2021 design. Designed by Venice-based Francesco Magnani and Traudy Pelzel of Italian architecture practice MAP Studio, the 2021 MPavilion positioned itself as a cultural laboratory primed to reengage the community through art, architecture and design as Melbourne emerged from lockdown.
The ‘Light Catcher’ design is a kaleidoscopic structure that reflects and amplifies activity and people. The cube is composed of an open steel structure representing a container of ideas and features 89 angled mirrored panels. The structure appears to float above the ground, supported by four u-shaped precast reinforced concrete columns, which can also be used as sitting places. Designed as a temporary structure, the use of precast components allowed it to be easily relocated to its permanent location.
Services
AECOM is a proud MPavilion partner providing structural, facades and fire engineering services and advice to the design team. Our involvement with MPavilion showcases our ability to work at all scales and collaborate with the best designers worldwide to create innovative, elegant, and inspiring structures.
Image: Anthony Richardson
Architect: MAP studio (Venice)
Builders: Schiavello
Building Surveyors: Gardner Group
Visual Identity: Studio Ongarato.
Awards
Winner: Urban Developer Awards for Industry Excellence in the ‘Excellence in Community Engagement’ category
Winner: Good Design Awards 2022 in the ‘Product Design – Furniture & Lighting’ category for ‘The Dancer’ chair
Award of Merit: Designers Australia 2022 Awards in the ‘Use’ category for the ‘Dancer’ chair
Silver Award: WAN Awards 2022 in the ‘Small Spaces’ category for The Lightcatcher
Silver Award: GOV Design Awards 2022 in the ‘Architecture – Cultural’ category for MPavilion 2021 The Lightcatcher
Silver Award: Design Institute of New Zealand BEST Design Awards 2022 in the ‘Exhibitions & Temporary Structures’ category for The Lightcatcher
Silver Award: Design Institute of New Zealand BEST Design Awards 2022 in the ‘Furniture’ category for ‘The Dancer’ chair
Shortlisted: WAF Awards 2022 in the ‘Completed Buildings – Display’ category for The Lightcatcher
Shortlisted: Designers Australia 2022 in the ‘Place’ category for MPavilion 2021
Shortlisted: INDE Awards 2022, in ‘The Influencer’ category for The Lightcatcher
Longlisted: DEZEEN Awards 2022 in the ‘Small Building’ category for The Lightcatcher
Longlisted: FEZEEN Awards 2022 in the ‘Seating Design’ category for ‘The Dancer’ chair
Finalist: Surface Design Awards 2022 in the ‘Temporary Structure’ category for The Lightcatcher
Special Mention: Architizer A+ Awards 2022 in the ‘Pavilions’ category for The Lightcatcher
Winner: International Architecture Award for 2023 – Display/Installation Category