MPavilion 2017: OMA's design puts a twist on ancient amphitheaters

OMA has revealed its design for australia’s 2017 MPavilion — a temporary structure conceived each year by a leading international architect. this year’s pavilion, which will again be erected in melbourne’s historic queen victoria gardens, will provide space for public debate, design workshops, and music and arts events. designed by rem koolhaas and david gianotten, the structure puts a twist on the configuration of ancient amphitheaters by blurring the roles of audience and performer.

UPDATE: this project was shortlisted in the ‘culture – completed buildings’ category at the 2018 world architecture festival.

all images © OMA

‘the pavilion’s ground plan is shaped by two grandstands; one fixed, the other movable, which together determine the setup of the performance space,’ explains OMA. ‘the larger static grandstand is excavated from the surrounding landscape and embedded in 12 different species of indigenous plants, giving a sense of the australian setting. the smaller grandstand can rotate, allowing it to shift functions from seating to stage and blur the distinction between actor and audience.’

the MPavilion will again be erected in melbourne’s historic queen victoria gardens

imagined as a stage, auditorium, or even a playground, this year’s MPavilion comprises static and dynamic elements that allow for multiple configurations and unexpected programming. overhead, a two-meter-deep gridded, machine-like canopy with a protective translucent roof will provide the necessary lighting and technological infrastructure for the pavilion’s series of free public events.

the structure will provide space for public debate and design workshops

‘MPavilion is a project that hopes to provoke discussion around what architecture can do both globally and in an australian context,’ say rem koolhaas and david gianotten, who are leading OMA’s design team. ‘we’re interested in treating this pavilion not just as an architectural object, but as something that injects intensity into a city and contributes to an ever-evolving culture.’

the pavilion’s ground plan is shaped by two grandstands: one fixed, and one movable

this season, in a first for MPavilion, the program will open up to design industry professionals and students. a call for proposals asks the public to contribute to the events and activities during the season between october 2017 and february 2018.

construction work is set to get underway in august 2017

‘OMA’s exciting design engenders a theater for ideas with melbourne as its backdrop,’ says naomi milgrom, MPavilion founder. ‘MPavilion 2017 will be extremely different to previous years, with a designated yet flexible stage enabling all kinds of cross-pollinated activity. working with rem, david and the OMA team is an extraordinary privilege, and I look forward to seeing them bring MPavilion 2017 to life with their multi-faceted intelligence and vision.’

construction is due to commence august 2017, with the pavilion opening to the public on october 3, 2017.

the smaller grandstand can rotate, allowing it to shift functions from seating to stage

scale model indicating the pavilion’s rotating component

the pavilion is topped with a gridded, machine-like canopy with a protective translucent roof

project info:

name: MPavilion
status: design development
client: naomi milgrom foundation
location: melbourne, australia
site: queen victoria gardens, melbourne
program: museum / gallery
partner-in-charge: david gianotten, rem koolhaas
team: laurence bolhaar, miguel taborda, paul jones, fedor medek, eve hocheng