The 2022 MPavilion has officially opened in Melbourne, Australia. Designed by Thailand-based practice all(zone), the scheme is defined by an “ingenious canopy” comprising three fabric, tensile layers.

The outermost layer of the pavilion’s canopy is built from fishing nets, creating what the team calls a “stunning tactile texture.” The middle layer is formed of an STFE membrane; a weatherproof, anti-glare, transparent material ten times lighter than glass. Finally, the bottom layer is composed of a “waffle” of colored fabric made of 49 individual sections, designed to “move with the breeze and filter light, evoking the feeling of gently resting under trees.”

“Working on the MPavilion project with so many talented individuals has been an incredible journey,” said all(zone) design director Rachaporn Choochuey. “MPavilion is special because even though it’s called a temporary pavilion, it’s actually even more complex than a building. The engineering and manufacturing have been a huge step forward for us in understanding the possibilities of fabric-based architecture.”

Each night, the pavilion will be illuminated to further reveal the canopy’s highly-engineered structure, and create an intense backdrop to the venue’s live music program. The kiosk beneath the pavilion will also be repainted four times throughout the season by Dulux, using fresh colors selected by all(zone).

The Thailand-based firm were chosen to design the ninth annual MPavilion in May 2022, and pledged to create a proposal that would encourage audiences to “think more deeply about different ways of using materials in a sustainable future.” Previous designers of the MPavilion include Glenn Murcutt, OMA/Rem Koolhaas, Amanda Levete, and recent Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medalist Sean Godsell. 

The 2022 pavilion will be open free to the public in the Queen Victoria Gardens, Melbourne, from Thursday December 8th, 2022 through Thursday April 6th, 2023.