amanda levete's translucent MPavilion opens in melbourne

amanda levete’s translucent MPavilion opens in melbourne
photography © john gollings

designed by british architect amanda levete, the 2015 MPavilion has opened to the public in melbourne. commissioned by the naomi milgrom foundation, the temporary structure employs materials and technologies developed for the aerospace industry to create a canopy of translucent ‘petals’ elevated four meters above ground.

this year’s MPavilion has been designed by british architect amanda levete

the design employs recently developed composite construction methods, refined in collaboration with specialists mouldCAM, to create a modular design consisting of 13 large and 30 small petals, held up by 95 carbon fibre columns. each support is fitted with a ring of LED lights that are activated to form a performance synchronized with a nightly soundscape in queen victoria gardens. open for four months — from october 6, 2015 until february 7, 2016 — it is intended that the pavilion will become a catalyst for social gatherings, hosting more than 200 workshops, function and events.

it is intended that the pavilion will become a catalyst for social gatherings within the city

‘I’m delighted that the 2015 MPavilion can now be shared with the public,’ commented architect amanda levete. ‘our pavilion is a celebration of those natural shelters where we come together, and we have a achieved an exceptionally light, open structure that sits gently on the land and allows the light, the wind and sometimes the rain, to form part of the show. it is designed to provide a contemplative, personal experience as well as a place to congregate.

‘composite technology has revolutionized engineering industries such as aerospace, and has the potential to do the same for construction. the use of composites enables structures of unprecedented lightness combined with great strength, and the potential applications in architecture are tantalizingly unexplored. composites are particularly exciting for AL_A because the sector is propelled by research into new techniques and processes that in turn give rise to new formal and expressive possibilities for us to discover.’

see designboom’s previous coverage of this year’s MPavilion here.

a canopy of translucent petals is supported by slender columns

the temporary structure employs materials and technologies developed for the aerospace industry

the design sits lightly in the grounds of melbourne’s queen victoria gardens

each petal is just a few millimeters thick

the pavilion will host more than 200 free public events

the petals are supported by 95 carbon fiber columns that vary from 3 to 4 meters in height

the petals are fitted with LED lights that are activated at sunset

the pavilion is open from october 6, 2015 until february 7, 2016