Overview
Melbourne's Queen Victoria Gardens are set to score an injection of colour this spring, with the arrival of this year's winning MPavilion design. Announced today, a vibrant canopied structure driven by celebrated architect Rachaporn Choochuey has been chosen as the annual commission's 2022 winner.
The design by Bangkok-based architecture and design practice all(zone) marks the ninth MPavilion in the series, which sees a new temporary structure erected in the inner-city garden each November. The MPavilion also plays host to a program of workshops, talks and performances across the following months.
Set to be unveiled on Thursday, November 17, this year's vibrant work was designed as a celebration of outdoor living, in response to pandemic lockdowns.
"We visualised rays of light flickering through layers of leaves that give a very relaxing ambiance — like being under a big tree," Choochuey explained of the orange design. "We wanted MPavilion to be a place where people could meet, enjoy and live in the moment freely."
The innovative design will be constructed with layers of coloured nets and architectural fabrics that feature a waterproof membrane often used in stadiums. Never before used in Australia, this cutting-edge membrane layer has the transparency of glass but is 10 times lighter, creating a weatherproof area with minimal impact on the environment.
"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," said Choochuey.
MPavilion 2022 will remain at Queen Victoria Gardens to host a season of events, before being relocated to a permanent home elsewhere in Melbourne. Previous MPavilion designs have included works by Glenn Murcutt AO, Spanish architect Carme Pinós, Venice's MAP Studio and more.
MPavilion 2022 will be open to the public from November 17 inside Melbourne's Queen Victoria Gardens. For more info, visit the website.