MPavilion 2017—OMA
MPavilion 2017—OMA
MPavilion is an ongoing initiative of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, supported by City of Melbourne, State Government of Victoria, through Creative Victoria and ANZ. Every year the Naomi Milgrom Foundation commissions an outstanding architect to design a temporary pavilion for the Queen Victoria Gardens, in the centre of Melbourne’s Southbank Arts Precinct, which are then gifted to the state of Victoria.
The vibrant MPavilion 2017, designed by Netherlands-based Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten has been described by the duo as a “modern-day amphitheatre”.
With flexibility and community in mind, OMA designed a living structure that integrated with the surrounding landscape and contained rotatable components, allowing interactions from all angles.
The pavilion is shaped by two tiered grandstands—one fixed and the other moveable—and covered by a floating roof structure. The rotating grandstand allows interaction from all angles and for the pavilion to open up to the garden and broader cityscape. MPavilion 2017 is the first completed architectural commission for both architects in Australia.
“MPavilion is ephemeral—if not in its lifespan, then at least in the permanence of its location in the Queen Victoria Gardens, and according to Koolhaas, such projects provide an opportunity for spatial and social research.”
Mitchell Oakley Smith for the October 2017 issue The Australian’s Wish Magazine.
Image by Bec Capp
Image by Laurence Bolhaar
Image by Laurence Bolhaar
Image by John Gollings
Image by John Gollings
Image by Bec Capp
Image by Timothy Burgess
Outcomes
From 3 October 2017 to Sunday 11 February 2018 at Queen Victoria Gardens, Melbourne, the 2018 MPavilion by OMA explored themes of ‘Liveable cities’ and ‘Countryside’—inspired by Rem Koolhaas. Over the 133 days, MPavilion held 477 free events with 70 talks and public lectures; 63 music performances; 35 design meetings and gatherings; 26 workshops; 20 kids events; 25 health and wellbeing events; 7 projects and installations and 250+ morning and evening rituals.
Highlights: MProjects—a series of specially commissioned installations with site-specific works by OMA/ Rem Koolhaas & David Gianotten, Philip Brophy, Matthew Bird, Soft Baroque and respected Boon Wurrung elder N’Arweet Carolyn Briggs.
Awards and Accolades: Winner of the Melbourne Awards 2018 for profile towards community and the AILA VIC Landscape Architecture Award 2018. Shortlisted by the INDE Awards, World Architecture Festival, World Architecture News Awards, Dezeen and Architzer+ Awards in 2018. Named by Wallpaper* as one of the top buildings that shaped culture in 2017.
Second Life: In 2018 the pavilion was gifted by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation to the people of Victoria and relocated to the grounds of Monash University, Clayton Campus where it continues to be engaged by the community.
117,000+
Visitors over 133 days
475
collaborations 475 including cultural institutions, architects, artists, musicians, dancers, choreographers, scientists and numerous festivals including Melbourne Festival, Melbourne Music Week, Multicultural Arts Victoria’s and Mapping Melbourne.
32
International guests including Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten of OMA; Zaha Hadid Architects principal Patrik Schumacher; V&A curator of contemporary architecture and urbanism, Rory Hyde; London-based architect and director of the REAL foundation, Jack Self; London-based designers Saša Štucin and Nicholas Gardner of Soft Baroque; Albanian contemporary artist Anri Sala; and Singaporean artist Sam Lo.
Regional Program with Shepparton Art Museum and Geelong Gallery
Responding to Koolhaas’ Countryside theme MPavilion’s Regional Program, devised in collaboration with Shepparton Art Museum and Geelong Gallery, was led by Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria (IADV) director Sarah Lynn Rees. Sydney-based artist Keg de Souza travelled to Shepparton to create an alternative map of the area based on local knowledgeand appeared at a special offsite MTalks in Shepparton, to share the outcomes of her time spent with local communities on Yorta Yorta land as part of the project.
MPavilion 2017’s 'Call For Proposals'
Inspired by OMA’s hope for the pavilion—a place for debate, MPavilion responded with its inaugural public call for event proposals. Events included Queer some space presented by XYX Lab and The Lifted Brow; Towards a swimmable, liveable Yarra (Birrarung) presented by YarraPools; the A stage for new parenthood meet-up and discussion series, which saw MPavilion 2017 transformed into a space for parents and babies; music in the gardens with Gertrude Opera; Is good design measurable?, a bumper panel discussion presented by the Office of the Victorian Government Architect; and a two-part placemaking workshop with CoDesign Studio. A total of 35 events were initiated.
MPavilion 2017 Stool
Designed by: OMA Manufacturer: European Ceramics, Osmond Park, Australia Material: CEDIT porcelain tile Dimensions: 400D x 400W x 400H Finish: Matrice Sostanza
Image by Bec Capp
Image by Bec Capp
COMMISSION
Swings by OMA
In the spirit of MPavilion 2017, which takes its cues from archetypal amphitheatres as meeting places for debate and entertainment, Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten presented Swings by OMA, an installation that draws from historical example to both re-contextualise and reinvigorate the simple joy of swings.
Deriving inspiration from ancient artefact, contemporary mainstays and nostalgic examples from cinema and popular culture, Swings by OMA harnessed movement, irreverence and a sense of play to activate MPavilion 2017 as a locus for multi-sensorial experiences, where surprising juxtapositions engendered potent connections and conversations.