| MPavilion | |
| Address: | Queen Victoria Gardens, St Kilda Road, Melbourne |
| Years Built: | Annually 2014—2023 |
| Est Completion: | --> |
| Destruction Date: | --> |
| Owner: | Naomi Milgrom Foundation |
| Size: | 350m |
| Floor Count: | 1 |
| Architect: | Tadao Ando 2023 |
MPavilion is a temporary pavilion in Queen Victoria Gardens, Melbourne, erected annually since 2014. The event is sponsored by philanthropist Naomi Milgrom.[1] Initially the project was planned for four years, but later it was extended by another two, until 2019, and then another three years to 2023. No pavilion was constructed in 2020 due to the Covid19 pandemic. The pavilions are used for various art events, after which each pavilion is gifted to the city or institution and moved to a permanent location.[2]
The first pavilion was designed by Sean Godsell, and was later relocated to the Hellenic Museum.[3] The second pavilion was designed by UK-based architect Amanda Levete in 2015, and later relocated to Docklands.[3] The third pavilion was a bamboo structure designed by Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai,[4] later relocated to the Melbourne Zoo.[2] In 2017, the pavilion was designed by Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten, and is OMA's first completed design in Australia.[5] It has been relocated to the Clayton campus of Monash University.[6] The 2018 pavilion was designed by Spanish architect Carme Pinós.[7] The architect of the 2019 pavilion was Glenn Murcutt[8]
Naomi Milgrom was presented with the 2015 President's Prize from the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects for the two MPavilion projects built and talk programs.[10] The President's citation described the project, “MPavilion is a brave and audacious project, involving the commissioning of architects of excellence and the support of a dense program of free public events. The MPavilion program is helping to position Melbourne as a key design centre in the Asia-Pacific Region and is the most publicly visited design exhibition in Australia. The two commissions to date by Sean Godsell and Amanda Levete have both been proactive and sensual projects, a credit to Naomi’s awareness of excellence in contemporary design and her renowned ability to get things done. I congratulate Naomi on her commitment to excellence in architecture, her public philanthropy and her personal facilitation of this outstanding public program”.
In 2015 Sean Godsell's pavilion was awarded a Small Project Architecture Award at the Victorian Chapter Australian Institute of Architects awards.[11]
In May 2024 Naomi Milgrom was presented with the 2024 National President's Prize of Australian Institute of Architects for her philanthropy, advocacy and the MPavilion Program. [12]