Tadao Ando’s design for the 10th MPavilion in Melbourne has been revealed, showcasing the architect’s ambition towards placemaking and the social cohesion of memory and his related desire to "find a scene of eternity within the oasis" that is the city’s 12-acre Queen Victoria Gardens.

Ando says the pavilion will be "eternal, not in material or structure, but in the memory of a landscape that will continue to live in people’s hearts."

"To reflect the lively nature of the site, like a blank canvas, I imagined an architecture of emptiness," his statement to the press continues. "Pure geometry outlines the composition of this design. Ancient Egyptians used fundamental geometry to create ordered spaces and structures in the natural world. Geometry formed the foundation of philosophical study in ancient Greece."

"It is the expression of human reason and the pursuit of ethereal space. With the circle and square, emptiness is given form. The emptiness, in its silence, lets the light and wind enter and breathe life into the space. The emptiness provokes a chance encounter between individuals and engenders dialogues. The emptiness resonates with the environment, becomes one with the garden, and blossoms into a microcosmos of infinite creativity."

The renderings revealed Thursday by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, which has commissioned the pavilion each year since 2014, show a low-profile aluminum-clad design, covered by a 47-foot circular disc that rests on a singular central column. A pair of offsetting concrete squares form perimeter walls and diametric entrances to enclose the structure, which shades a reflecting pool and is designed to reference traditional walled Japanese gardens.

Ando says this will be "a space to reflect, interact and appreciate that which is contained within, be it nature, art or people.:

He also said this creates a spatial sequence consistent with his long-held interest in light and dark. The sequences will change throughout the day corresponding to the movement of the sun, with the surfaces revealing "arresting patterns of shadow." A balance of materials is also achieved by paving areas around the ground plane to counteract the pool while mirroring the city skyline.

The pavilion will open to the public in Queen Victoria Gardens this summer and play host to a series of talks and other design-focused public events through the end of March 2024. The pavilion follows a 2022 submission from Thailand-based all(zone), which the foundation says attracted around 350,000 visitors last year. More than 1.25 million people have partaken since its inception, making it one of global architecture's most significant platforms for both the showcase of design and philosophy worldwide.

"Tadao Ando’s architecture is remarkable because it radically affects the way we perceive the world around us," the foundation's founder Naomi Milgrom said finally. "Like Ando, I am passionate about architecture that promotes public life and social interaction — and I’m thrilled that Australians will be able to directly experience his genius through this incredibly special space for conversation, exchange and contemplation."

Archinect will share further details as they become available.