a first look at tadao ando's sculptural MPavilion 10 design in melbourne

naomi milgrom foundation reveals mpavilion 10 by tadao ando

The Naomi Milgrom Foundation has revealed the design for the MPavilion10 by Pritzker Prize-winner Tadao Ando. One of the world’s leading architects, Ando’s proposal reflects his signature use of striking geometric interventions in nature and his precise, assured use of concrete. MPavilion 10 will open in Melbourne this summer, marking the start of an annual five-month design festival of free events in Melbourne’s iconic Queen Victoria Gardens. This will be the tenth MPavilion festival, which has grown to become one of Australia’s most-visited and impactful festivals, attracting more than 350,000 people in 2022.

aerial view of MPavilion 10 | render © Tadao Ando, courtesy the architect

‘Each year, MPavilion commissions architects with a unique design language and social purpose, giving them complete freedom to realize their vision. I have long admired how Tadao Ando responds to and incorporates the particularity of a place into his design and his belief that architecture can shape a society,’ shares Milgrom. ‘As the MPavilion prepares for the 10th edition, we look forward to sharing Ando’s work in Australia for the very first time and having his MPavilion become a vital site in the cultural and community life of Melbourne.’

interior view | render © Tadao Ando, courtesy the architect

a new meeting place striving for spatial purity 

One of Japan’s leading contemporary architects, Tadao Ando (see more here)  is known for his striking geometric interventions in nature and his precise, assured use of concrete. Among his many notable works are the Church of the Light (1989; Osaka, Japan), Pulitzer Arts Foundation (2001; St. Louis, USA), Chichu Art Museum (2004; Naoshima, Japan), 21_21 Design Sight (2007; Tokyo, Japan), and Bourse de Commerce— Pinault Collection (2020; Paris, France). With this commission, Ando joins a roster of distinguished architects carefully curated by Naomi Milgrom to explore the intersection of design and contemporary culture.

For this intervention, conceived as a new meeting place within Melbourne’s Arts Precinct, Ando’s MPavilion design encapsulates his desire to create a memorable structure that responds directly to the Gardens. It strives for spatial purity, employing the geometry of circles and squares to create a space in harmony with nature. 

Church of the Light | image © Mitsuo Matsuoka, courtesy Tadao Ando Architect & Associates

MPavilion 10 features a large canopy – a 14.4-meter aluminum-clad disc resting on a central concrete column. Two offset squares create two entrances leading to the pavilion’s center. Concrete walls of varying lengths partially enclose the space to create a tranquil sanctuary reminiscent of a traditional Japanese walled garden. A long horizontal opening (19.4cm x 22.5cm) running the length of the north and south walls frames views of the Melbourne skyline and parklands, connecting the city and lush greenery of the Queen Victoria Gardens to the interior. The geometric forms and symmetry are reinforced by an internal arrangement that is a half-paved and half-reflecting pool, which mirrors the canopy, sky, city, and surrounds.

‘The design began with a desire to create a sense of eternity within Melbourne’s garden oasis,’ shares Tadao Ando. ‘I wanted to create an experience that will last forever in the hearts of all who visit. I imagined an architecture of emptiness, that lets light and breeze enter and breathe life into it. A place that resonates with the environment, becomes one with the garden and blossoms with infinite creativity. MPavilion 10 is designed to encourage encounters between people, the natural world and endless dialogue.’

mpavilion’s yearly mission as a cultural laboratory 

MPavilion is an annual initiative of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, serving as a cultural laboratory where the community can come together to experience, engage, and share. In 2023, the annual five-month festival of free public programs will continue with talks and lectures, music performances, and kid-friendly workshops, among many other design-focused events. The 2023 themes, which will be informed by the concerns of Tadao Ando’s practice, will be announced in the coming months.The first nine MPavilions have welcomed more than 900,000 visitors and hosted over 3,500 free events since its establishment in 2014. At the end of each MPavilion season, the Naomi Milgrom Foundation gifts the pavilion to the people of Victoria and relocates it to a new, permanent public home in the community. 

Church of the Light | image © Tadao Ando, courtesy the architect

Chichu Art Museum, Naoshima | image © Mitsuo Matsuoka, courtesy Tadao Ando Architect & Associates

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Courtesy Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection | © Tadao Ando Architect & Associates. NeM / Niney et Marca Architectes, Agence Pierre-Antoine Gatier | image © Yuji ONO

 

Pulitzer Arts Foundation | image © Mitsuo Matsuoka, courtesy Tadao Ando Architect & Associates

Church of the Light | image © Mitsuo Matsuoka, courtesy Tadao Ando Architect & Associates

21_21 DESIGN SIGHT | image © Mitsuo Matsuoka, courtesy Tadao Ando Architect & Associates

Pulitzer Arts Foundation | image © Mitsuo Matsuoka, courtesy Tadao Ando Architect & Associates

Chichu Art Museum, Naoshima | image © Tadao Ando, courtesy the architect

Courtesy Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection | © Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, NeM / Niney et Marca Architectes, Agence Pierre-Antoine Gatier | image © Patrick Tourneboeuf

project info:

name: MPavilion 10 | @mpavilion 

commissioned architect: Tadao Ando

organized by: Naomi Milgrom Foundation | @nmf_au

revealing date: May 2023 

opening date: November 16, 2023