Bangkok-based architecture studio all(zone) has opened the ninth MPavilion in Melbourne, exploring the "possibilities of fabric-based architecture" with new materials. 

The bright, orange-colored canopy has been installed as part of the annual commission of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation in Melbourne's Queen Victoria Gardens, Australia. 

MPavilion 2022 is now open to the public from 8 December 2022 to 6 April 2023 in Melbourne's Queen Victoria Gardens.

The design of MPavilion, led by internationally-acclaimed architect and all(zone) Design Director Rachaporn Choochuey, made of three layers that unfold "the potential of fabric and tensile architecture at every step."

"MPavilion 2022 experiments with materials have never before been used in Australia," according to MPavilion. 

The aim was to create an electrifying, joyful setting for MPavilion’s summer program of free events in the Queen Victoria Gardens.

"Working on the MPavilion project with so many talented individuals has been an incredible journey. MPavilion is special because even though it’s called a temporary pavilion, it’s actually even more complex than a building," said Design director of all(zone) Rachaporn Choochuey.

"We focused on how the MPavilion would accommodate lots of different activities, and the engineering and manufacturing has been a huge step forward for us in understanding the possibilities of fabric-based architecture," she added.

The pavilion, designed to celebrate being outdoors, emerges as "a vibrant, textural" feature with its ingenious canopy. The outermost layer is made of fishing nets, giving the structure a stunning tactile texture that defines the MPavilion’s profile from afar. 

On the other hand, the middle layer is crafted from a cutting-edge STFE membrane supplied by French manufacturer Serge Ferrari. 

The structure is as transparent as glass but 10 times lighter than glass, while this polyarylate mesh reduces glare and keeps the MPavilion weatherproof. 

The team explained that "it’s the first time STFE technology has been used in Australia." 

The bottom layer features a waffle of coloured fabric that moves with the breeze and filters light, evoking the feeling of gently resting under trees.

This year, award-winning specialist Melbourne based lighting design practice Bluebottle has collaborated with MPavilion to develop an architectural lighting concept. 

Each night the MPavilion will be illuminated to reveal the complexity of the highly engineered structure hidden within and add intense kinetic colour across the live music program of the summer season. 

Another addition is the selection of color that Dulux will bring a fresh look to the MPavilion each month with architect Rachaporn Choochuey. The team will select four colours that will be used to paint the Kiosk.

To build the pavilion, all(zone) has worked with engineering firms AECOM and Tensys. The team worked with materials used for the first time in Australia, a testament to their talent and expertise.

"When I first met Rachaporn and her design team, I quickly realised that we shared goals of harnessing architecture and design to make the world a better place for the future," said Naomi Milgrom AC founder of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation. 

"Focused on solutions for upcycling and reusing buildings, sites and materials, all(zone)’s lightweight interventions complement MPavilion’s vision of fostering dialogue on how design and architecture can help create better cities for the people who live in them," Milgrom added.

The opening weekend celebrations kicked off with a dance party presented by Crown Ruler, featuring a lineup of international acts including John Gomez, Nick the Record and Dita on Friday 9 December. 

This will be followed on Saturday 10 December by the Thai Festival, celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Australia. 

The all-day festivities will champion Thai architecture, design, art and culture in collaboration with the Royal Thai Embassy and the Thai Australian Chamber.

The MPavilion 2022 season will be filled with free events and host hundreds of local and international collaborators spanning talks, workshops, performances, kid-friendly experiences and community projects. 

The structure is designed as both a temporary summer pavilion and an enduring architectural creation. 

At the end of the season, MPavilion 2022 will be gifted to the people of Victoria and moved to a permanent new home to be engaged by the community in perpetuity, adding to the ongoing legacy and impact of the MPavilion project.

Image © Casey Horsfield

Image © Casey Horsfield

Image © Casey Horsfield

Image © Casey Horsfield

MPavilion prides itself on being a driving force for architectural and design excellence in Australia, and in 2022, the Naomi Milgrom Foundation brought together a team of powerhouse women to steer the project. 

The female-led design and project delivery team includes Rachaporn Choochuey, lead architect and design director of all(zone); Mai Kitmungsa, project architect of all(zone); Wittida Pyomyong, project architect of all(zone); Leanne Zilka, principal architect of ZILKA Studios; Louise Nicholson, project director of Naomi Milgrom Foundation; Chloe Dang, graduate design engineer of Oasis Tension Structures; and Jen Zielinska, creative director of MPavilion.

Previous MPavilion designs include the 2015 MPavilion by Amanda Levete and a "performative" theater-like 2017 MPavilion by Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten of OMA. 

All images © John Gollings unless otherwise stated.

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