Melbourne’s architectural landscape has received a significant boost with the announcement that the MPavilion designed by esteemed Japanese architect Tadao Ando will remain in Queen Victoria Gardens until 2030.
Originally intended as a temporary installation, the pavilion’s extension underscores its cultural and architectural significance.
The decision by the City of Melbourne follows a robust community campaign, “Preserve the Pavilion,” which garnered over 2,500 public signatures and support from prominent figures in the global design and architecture community.
Advocates highlighted the pavilion’s role as a sanctuary and a space for reflection, emphasizing its contribution to Melbourne’s creative ecosystem.
Tadao Ando’s MPavilion is significant for its striking blend of geometry, concrete, and light, creating a meditative space in Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Gardens. As his first work in Australia, it symbolises the city’s global architectural relevance and offers a lasting cultural gift that inspires reflection, gathering, and creative exchange.
Since its opening in November 2023, Ando’s MPavilion has hosted hundreds of public events, ranging from performances to community gatherings, attracting over 300,000 visitors and earning ten global design awards.
The Naomi Milgrom Foundation, responsible for commissioning the pavilion, has committed to maintaining the structure and delivering cultural programming at no cost to the public until 2030.
Tadao Ando expressed his gratitude in a newsletter to supporters stating, “I am honoured that MPavilion will remain in Queen Victoria Gardens as a place for the community to gather and reflect.” He acknowledged Naomi Milgrom as “a true champion of architecture” whose vision and generosity made this extension possible.
The MPavilion is open daily from 8am to 6pm, offering Melburnians and visitors alike a unique space to engage with architecture and community events. For more information and updates on upcoming programs, visit the official MPavilion website.
