Naomi Milgrom Foundation launched the new MPavilion designed by Indian architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai in Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Gardens. A temporary summer pavilion with a permanent legacy, MPavilion 2016 is the third annual architect-designed summer pavilion for Melbourne.
MPavilion 2016 was officially opened by Naomi Milgrom AO, MPavilion founder; Robert Doyle, Lord Mayor of Melbourne; Naydeep Suri, Indian High Commissioner and Bijoy Jain. The grand occasion was commemorated by a live performance by Yorta Yorta soprano Deborah Cheetham and Dr Aneesh Pradhan, a leading Indian musician.
The design of MPavilion features an opening at the centre of the roof that the architect sees as connecting the earth to the sky. Below sits a golden well symbolising the importance of water to place and community. An elaborate tazia entrance tower, used in Indian ceremonies, is seen next to the pavilion as a welcoming gesture. The lighting design for this design marvel has been done by by Ben Cobham of Bluebottle. At twilight, the pavilion is lit in-synch with a specially commissioned nightly soundscape by artists Geoff Nees and J David Franzke.
With a number of creative collaborators, MPavilion presents a free, four-month public program comprising over 400 talks, workshops, performances and installations from October to February.
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