Photography |  John Gollings

MPavilion 10

位於墨爾本維多利亞女王花園的 MPavilion 10，這是安藤忠雄在澳洲的首個作品，也是一座獨特的涼亭裝置建築。他延續了自己獨有的設計語言，展現對自然細膩的理解，以清水混凝土做為主要材料，善用花園天然豐沛且幽靜的環境資源，揉合大地的光、風、水與幾何元素，營造出光與影的美學意境，它不僅僅是一個靜謐的堡壘，也是一個能夠與人們產生交流和互動的涼亭結構。

MPavilion 10 占地約376平方公尺，頂部設計為一個直徑14.4公尺的鋁製圓盤，被置於佇立中央的混凝土柱上方。六道立面牆體分別形成兩個錯位的幾何方形，其結構劃分了一旁的留白處形成入口，引導人們自在地進入空間內部。透過四周不等長的混凝土牆體，營造內部的平靜氛圍，其意境與傳統的日式庭園有所連結，讓人不自覺地緩下腳步駐足於此。

Photography | Luke Ray

Photography | Marie-Luise Skibbe

兩道細長近17公尺的水平開口各劃開了南、北兩側牆體，透過這個口徑將外側公園的一抹綠意與城市輪廓引入 MPavilion 10 內部與其相連。而幾何方形內的地面高低差，將空間一分為二，一半鋪設為地坪，另一半則以鏡面水池型態呈現。池面上映照涼亭遮簷、天空、周圍樹冠與城市天際線的輪廓，時而清晰時而模糊，讓停留於此的人們，能夠與大自然進行一場釋放的對談儀式，從而獲得視覺感官的洗禮與心靈淨化的洗滌。MPavilion 10 立體介面虛、實的穿透性和幾何形式的堆疊，建築內部所呈現的畫面稍縱即逝卻也永恆。

安藤忠雄表示：「設計 MPavilion 10 涼亭的初衷，旨在為墨爾本維多利亞女王花園這個城市綠洲中，創造一個永恆的場景，這個永恆不只是體現在物質或結構上，而是保留在人們記憶中的那道風景」。於是他運用了古埃及幾何學的基礎，在自然界中創造了有序的空間和結構，因應這個涼亭的功能，就像一張純白畫布，想像一個空虛的建築在寂靜中，讓光和風進入，為其注入生命。他進一步分享：「很榮幸能夠完成自己在澳洲的第一個項目，並創造了一座『 生活建築』，它將在墨爾本文化生活中發揮如此重要的功用，且希望來訪的人們，這個空間能夠進入他們的心靈，讓感官與光、風互動融合，體驗與自然、自我和他人共處的和諧。」

Photography | Luke Ray

Photography | Luke Ray

Located in the Queen Victoria Gardens of Melbourne, MPavilion 10 is Tadao Ando's first work in Australia, and a unique pavilion structure. Continuing his distinctive design language, it demonstrates a delicate understanding of nature. Utilizing fair-faced concrete as the primary material and capitalizing on the abundant and tranquil environment of the garden, it merges elements of light, wind, water, and geometry. This creates an aesthetic of light and shadow, making the pavilion not just a serene haven but also a structure that facilitates interaction and communication with people.

Photography |  Michael Pham

Photography Michael Pham

Photography John Gollings 

MPavilion 10 covers an area of approximately 376 square meters, with its top designed as an aluminum disc with a diameter of 14.4 meters, placed above a central concrete column. The six façade walls form two staggered geometric squares, creating an entrance in the adjoining space, guiding visitors comfortably into the interior. The varying lengths of the concrete walls around the perimeter foster a tranquil atmosphere inside, resonating with the essence of traditional Japanese gardens, subtly encouraging visitors to slow down and linger.

Two slender horizontal openings, each nearly 17 meters long, are cut into the north and south walls, bringing a glimpse of greenery and city outlines from the exterior park into the interior of MPavilion 10, creating a connection. The geometrically varied levels of the ground divide the space into two: half is laid as flooring, while the other half is presented as a reflective water pool. The reflections of the pavilion's eaves, sky, surrounding tree canopies, and city skyline on the pool surface alternate between clarity and obscurity, allowing those who linger here to engage in a liberating dialogue with nature, receiving a baptism of visual senses and spiritual cleansing. The interplay of solid and void in the three-dimensional interface of MPavilion 10, along with the stacking of geometric forms, renders the internal imagery ephemeral yet eternal.

Photography | Luke Ray

Tadao Ando stated, “The initial intention behind designing the MPavilion 10 was to create an eternal scene in the Queen Victoria Gardens, an urban oasis in Melbourne. This eternity is not just manifested in the material or structure but is retained as a landscape in people's memories.” Thus, he employed the fundamentals of ancient Egyptian geometry to create an orderly space and structure within nature, akin to a blank canvas. He envisioned an empty building in silence, allowing light and wind to enter, breathing life into it. He further shared, “I am honored to complete my first project in Australia, creating a 'living architecture' that plays such a significant role in Melbourne's cultural life. I hope that for those who visit, this space can enter their hearts, blending senses with light and wind, and experience harmony with nature, oneself, and others.”

MPavilion is a distinguished architectural commission in Australia. The MPavilion project, orchestrated by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, is an annual architectural highlight in Melbourne. Each year, renowned architects are invited to design, showcasing their unique insights and innovations in architectural art. This year, the MPavilion project celebrates its 10th anniversary, a significant milestone. For this occasion, the Naomi Milgrom Foundation has invited Pritzker Prize laureate Tadao Ando to create a representative public building, marking the inauguration of this year's program. Concurrently, a five-month-long festival featuring 150 events is being launched, inviting local residents and attracting a large number of visitors. The deeper significance of these activities is to explore the relationship between people, architecture, art, and the urban environment, and to provide a vibrant and creative platform for cultural exchange within the local community.

Photography | John Gollings