The eighth MPavilion 2022, which will be built in the Queen Victoria Gardens starting on Thursday, November 17, 2022, has been unveiled by Bangkok-based architecture and design firm all(zone) under the direction of internationally renowned architect Rachaporn Choochuey.
All(zone) has created a distinctive and energizing space for people to interact with MPavilion’s thought-provoking and diverse program, heading into its ninth season as a key component of the city’s cultural calendar, by experimenting with materials and forms that are being used for the first time in Australia.
Naomi Milgrom said: “We’re so excited to work with all(zone) and Rachaporn. Her unique vision rethinks how design can impact our ways of living and the environment, and her work will require audiences to think more deeply about different ways of using materials in a sustainable future.”
Choochuey said: “After being confined for such a long time, we began the project with the idea of celebrating ‘outdoor living’. We visualised rays of light flickering through layers of leaves that give a very relaxing ambience—like being under a big tree. We wanted MPavilion to be a place where people could meet, enjoy and live in the moment freely. In a world where we increasingly encounter a shortage of resources and ever-changing social conditions, the lifespan of architecture in relation to its materiality should be reinvestigated. The intent of our design for MPavilion is to explore the potential of architecture to embrace a lighter and more casual spirit, and become even more sustainable and engaging.”
The MPavilion is comprised of layers of architectural fabrics and custom-colored nets, along with a waterproof membrane that is frequently found in stadiums. The membrane layer is made of a cutting-edge lightweight mesh that is 10 times lighter than glass and supplied by the French firm Serge Ferrari. For the first time in Australia, a barely perceptible mesh lets light and color to pass through the MPavilion while maintaining its weatherproofness and lowering its environmental effect.
Specialist engineering consultancy TENSYS worked with all(zone) and AECOM to apply the innovative tensile membrane to the MPavilion’s design. “Such efforts required pushing the limits of the physically and technologically possible, reimagining materials from across the globe in new and innovative ways,” said Peter Lim, Director of TENSYS.
The MPavilion program’s legacy as an open forum for cultural exchange is carried on by the structure of all(zone).Milgrom added: “Our goal with MPavilion has always been to create an enduring space for people to think and imagine the impact architecture and design can have on one’s life. More than ever we need fresh ideas that force us to be brave!
All(zoneMPavilion )’s 2022, which will be the eighth MPavilion given to the general public by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, will be moved to a permanent location at the end of the season for community usage. Visit one of the previously given MPavilions at one of the many locations around the city, including the Hellenic Museum’s MPavilion 2014 by Sean Godsell (now modified), Docklands’ MPavilion 2015 by Amanda Levete, Melbourne Zoo’s MPavilion 2016 by Bijoy Jain, Monash University Clayton Campus’ MPavilion 2017 by OMA, and the University of Melbourne’s MPavilion 2019 by Glenn Murcutt.
About all(zone)
All(zone) are renowned for their research and cutting-edge, vernacular design solutions that take into account how quickly and constantly changing modern megacities are. The MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum in Chiang Mai, the first of its kind in Thailand, is the reason they are most well-known.
About the Naomi Milgrom Foundation
Since 2014, the Naomi Milgrom Foundation has contributed to the advancement of Australian culture by introducing outstanding works of art, design, and architecture to new audiences. The foundation, under the direction of Naomi Milgrom, has developed into a role model for public-private partnership by enabling new initiatives with an emphasis on public involvement, industry stimulation, and education.
