In the lead up to Melbourne Cup Carnival, we look at what's in store for one of the most talked-about design moments, the elaborate Lexus Design Pavilion. 

The Lexus Design Pavilion is always a true spectacle of design showmanship. From eye-catching overhead installations to lush and billowing outdoor sanctuaries, it is a perfectly staged made-for-Instagram moment and a sophisticated design extravaganza.

This year, the Lexus Design Pavilion will return to Flemington’s coveted birdcage at Melbourne Cup Carnival, which will serve as a canvas for a collective of hand-picked collaborators who will each present their interpretation of design across architecture, cuisine and experience.

Inspired by a theme synonymous of Lexus’ presentation at Milan Design Week in 2015 – Journey of the Senses – guests of Lexus will enjoy soundscapes, scents, striking visual aspects and taste.  The design philosophy this year builds on the concept of ‘growth into fruition’.

Joost Bakker’s work for Lexus, whose hanging rose garden adorned in repurposed light bulb fixtures flourished wildly across Instagram-feeds in 2014, will be taken to new heights. Bakker will bring a bird nest to the birdcage; encapsulating the pavilion in recycled wire roots that twist and wrap the exterior. The confronting peripheral unravels inside, showcasing elegantly formed zones that take guests on a journey of colour, soft, natural textures and form over three distinct levels.

Mim Design Studio will return at the helm of the project – the only architecturally designed marquee within the birdcage. “Flemington calls for taking risks, and being brave. We have set out to create all-encompassing visual experience that will transport Lexus guests beyond the racetrack, into a world of state-of-the-art design. It’s hard to believe the pavilion is a temporary structure,” says Miriam Fanning, Director at Mim Design Studio.

Among the pavilions unique design features that capture the imagination, installation-artist Georgie Seccull brings to life a roaming wall of paper butterflies, while a special glimpse of the all-new luxury Lexus New Generation RX vehicle will be interpreted through a special sculptural installation created by Nicolas Hogios, Chief Designer of Product Design, Lexus Australia.

Lexus Design Pavilion
lexus.com.au