geometric perfection

Designed by Pritzker Prize winner Tadao Ando, MPavilion 10 in Melbourne is a concrete sanctuary comprising two offset squares and a circular top.

- Sasha Gonzales

Nestled in Melbourne's tranquil Queen Victoria Gardens and surrounded by heritage-listed trees, a concrete structure stands out with its grey façade, sizeable canopy and a design reminiscent of a traditional Japanese walled garden.

This is MPavilion 10, conceived by Pritzker Prize winner and one of the world's leading architects, Tadao Ando. The structure reflects Ando's signature use of striking geometric interventions in nature and his precise, assured use of concrete.

mpavilion: a "cultural laboratory"

With its cutting-edge design, inspiring galleries and dynamic festivals and community events, it is no surprise that Melbourne is often referred to as the arts and cultural capital of Australia.

MPavilion, the country's foremost architecture commission and an important annual design festival, further reinforces the city's standing as a major centre of design creativity and expertise. An ongoing initiative by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, MPavilion serves as a cultural laboratory. Members of the public can come together to experience, engage, and share, over a five-month-long festival of free public programmes featuring talks and lectures, music and dance performances and other design-focused events. The initiative, which takes place during the Australian summer, is supported by the City of Melbourne and the Victorian State Government through Creative Victoria.

MPavilion is in its 10th year. Over the decade, it has welcomed more than 1.25 million visitors, and hosted about 3,500 free events generated in collaboration with 4,000 individuals and organisations. It has also received 69 national and international design awards.