MPavilion is Melbourne's yearly landmark architecture event, conceived to provide the Australian city with a new social area and event hub, dedicated to the celebration of art, design and architecture. The concept behind this year's pavilion has just been announced – created by Bijoy Jain, the award-winning founder of Indian practice Studio Mumbai.
The MPavilion program, initiated by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation and supported by the City of Melbourne and the Victorian State Government, calls on an ‘outstanding’ architect to envision a temporary pavilion for the city's Queen Victoria Gardens. Last year’s design came courtesy of AL_A (headed by Amanda Levete), while the 2014 edition was provided by Australian firm Sean Godsell Architects.
Totalling 12m in height, Jain’s structure will consist entirely of bamboo, securing the title of the largest of its kind ever built in Australia. Standing on a 18m x 18m base, the construction will stretch upwards, taking the form of a tazia – a ceremonial tower commonly used in Indian festival processions. The structure will be built by a family located in Bharuch in central-west India, who specialise in the ancient art.
The lower portion of the pavilion – the tazia's base – will be covered by an awning and roof made of woven bamboo lattice panels, secured using a mix of cow dung and wet soil. The engineering and construction will be managed by both Studio Mumbai and Indian firm Kane Construction, assisted by Arup engineers, who have offices in Mumbai and Melbourne.
Alongside the structure itself, each year the MPavilion programme brings together a range of creative talent that presents work alongside the architecture. Similarly, this year sees a four-month long itinerary of talks, workshops and performances, set to run on site from October – when the pavilion is inaugurated – until February 2017.
The lower portion of the pavilion will be constructed from a woven bamboo lattice, secured by a mix of cow dung and wet soil
Jain's bamboo pavilion is planned to reach 12m in height, making it the largest of its kind ever to be built in Australia
The structure references a tazia – a traditional Indian ceremonial tower. It will be built by a family in Bharuch, who specialise in the ancient art
The engineering and construction of the structure will be overseen by Studio Mumbai and Kane Constructions. Pictured: a bird's eye view of a model of Jain's pavilion
Alongside it, the MPavilion program will feature a series of talks, workshops and performances
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the MPavilion website
Photography: Nicholas Watt
-
Don’t Move, Improve 2024: London’s bold, bright and boutique home renovationsDon’t Move, Improve 2024 reveals its shortlist, with 16 home designs competing for the top spot, to be announced in May
-
Perfumer H has bottled the scent of dandelions blowing in the windPerfumer H has debuted a new fragrance for spring, called Dandelion. Lyn Harris tells Wallpaper* about the process of its creation
-
The best fashion moments at Milan Design Week 2024Scarlett Conlon discovers the moments fashion met design at Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week 2024, as Loewe, Hermès, Bottega Veneta, Prada and more staged intriguing presentations and launches across the city
-
Lavender Bay house opens towards the water, overlooking Sydney harbourLavender Bay house by Tobias Partners is an expansive family home overlooking Sydney harbour
-
Mori House is an Australian beach escape fusing international design influencesMornington Peninsula's Mori House by architect Manuel Aires Mateus is a striking fusion of Australian, Portuguese and Japanese design influences
-
Victorian cottage transformed by radical extension into a light-filled living spaceGlasshouse Projects has opened up the heart of this Victorian cottage in Adelaide, Australia, with a contemporary garden extension and pool
-
Sydney’s Wharf Apartment is a heritage maritime space that evokes a coastal holiday homeLawless & Meyerson’s Wharf Apartment is a careful, contemporary residential transformation in Sydney’s Finger Wharf that taps into the property's historic character
-
Eclat rethinks 21st-century workspace with a hospitality offering in MelbourneWith new Melbourne co-working space Eclat, Australian designers Forme defy the conventional shared office model through sensitive craftsmanship and hidden high-tech
-
This Melbourne aquatic recreation centre’s crafted timber ceiling hints at its sustainability ambitionsThe Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre by Warren and Mahoney opens in Melbourne, blending sleek aesthetics with environmental responsibility
-
Orchid Pavilion channels Japanese philosophy for blossoming flowers in Puerto EscondidoOrchid Pavilion by CCA Centro de Colaboración Arquitectónica provides fitting shelter for flower conservation in Mexico's Casa Wabi
-
Treetops House brings softness to contemporary concrete volumes in SydneyTreetops House by Tobias Partners is an Australian home that juxtaposes crisp concrete volumes with soft curves, playful colours and lush nature
