The 9th MPavilion by female-led architecture practice all(zone), Bangkok, opens.

The 9th MPavilion by female-led architecture practice all(zone), Bangkok, opens with an ingenious canopy for Melbourne.

Today, MPavilion, an initiative of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, has unveiled the ninth MPavilion designed by all(zone), an internationally acclaimed architecture practice founded by Rachaporn Choochuey, based in Bangkok. Designed and delivered by a femaleled team, all(zone)’s MPavilion 2022 experiments with materials never before used in Australia to create an electrifying, joyful setting for MPavilion’s summer program of free events in the Queen Victoria Gardens.

MPavilion 2022 will be officially opened by MPavilion founder Naomi Milgrom AC, Honorary Consul for Thailand in Melbourne Tessa Sullivan and City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp. The opening event is commemorated with a specially commissioned Welcome to Country song by Yorta Yorta soprano Deborah Cheetham AO, composed in response to all(zone)’s design. Design director of all(zone) Rachaporn Choochuey said: “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. 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.”

Naomi Milgrom AC founder of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation and commissioner of the MPavilion project said: “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.

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.” Designed to celebrate being outdoors, the vibrant, textural MPavilion’s standout feature is its ingenious canopy, comprising three layers that explore the potential of fabric and tensile architecture at every step. The outermost layer is built from fishing nets, giving the structure a stunning tactile texture that defines the MPavilion’s profile from afar. The middle layer is crafted from a cutting-edge STFE membrane supplied by French manufacturer Serge Ferrari. As transparent as glass but 10 times lighter, this polyarylate mesh reduces glare and keeps the MPavilion weatherproof. It’s the first time STFE technology has been used in Australia. Lastly, 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 again to realise the 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. And in a partnership-first, Dulux will bring a fresh look to the MPavilion each month with architect Rachaporn Choochuey selecting four colours that will be used to paint the Kiosk. MPavilion prides itself on being a driving force for architectural and design excellence in Australia, and in 2022, Naomi Milgrom AC 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.

A strong supporter of building careers in the design industry, to bring all(zone)’s vision to life, a multi-disciplinary team of architects, engineers and builders from AECOM, Tensys, Schiavello and Serge Ferrari collaborated and supported each other to design, test and work with materials used for the first time in Australia, a testament to their talent and expertise. The opening weekend celebrations kick 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 of free events features hundreds of local and international collaborators spanning talks, workshops, performances, kid-friendly experiences and community projects. 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.

Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos said: “MPavilion has become an innovative fixture on Melbourne’s summer calendar. It’s a celebration of design excellence, creativity and ideas, and a spectacular community space packed with free events and activities that gives Victorians and visitors yet another reason to enjoy summer in Melbourne.”

For further information including program times, please visit: www.mpavilion.org MPavilion 2022 is open free to the public in the Queen Victoria Gardens, Melbourne, from Thursday 8 December 2022 until Thursday 6 April 2023.

Website: mpavilion.org | Instagram: @mpavilion