Melbourne’s unmissable MPavilion returns this month for its longest season ever, featuring more than 250 free events over the next five months. 

Now in its seventh year, MPavilion annually commissions a different iconic studio to design the pavilion that the programme is centred around. This year’s pavilion, titled ‘The Lightcatcher’ was conceived by MAP Studio (Venice) and will be open from December 2nd 2021 until April 24th 2022.

Melbourne-based fashion designer Erik Yvon conceived the staff uniform. Chair by chair commission winner Nüüd Studio. Photography by Marie Luise.

Beginning with an online series from November 23 before transitioning into the physical, each month will have a different theme, including Island Life (November), That Which Makes Things Visible (December), Vacation, Location Staycation (January), Rituals: Marking Life (February), Design as a Human Right (March) and The Reality of this Time (April).

A render of this year’s MPavilion.

The program, run by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, is Australia’s leading architecture and design event, featuring the best of design from Australia and across the globe. We’ve pulled together some of the highlights from the calendar – but there’s plenty more to check out.

MTalks 

MTalks is a partially-digital series of talks with leading local and international design minds that explore the role of architecture and design in contemporary life. MTalks will be the first part of the programme to launch and runs from November 23.

Our pick: Mirnungumayimanha podcast will be among the first releases of the series. Researcher and designer Jack Mitchell speaks with Elders in Western Australia about the cultural importance of waterways and island life for the podcast. 

MMusic

MMusic encompasses a set of shows, sets and workshops, including difficult-to-define audio experiences. 

Our pick: Kicking off the month of December, Deborah Cheetham AO has written Galnya Yakarrumdja, a newly commissioned piece of music, that will be played daily to mark each sunrise and sunset that hits the pavilion.

Deborah Cheetham AO. Photography by Wayne Quilliam.

MMeets

MMeets is a series of free gatherings that explore the impact of design on society.

Our pick: BLAKitecture: The Manifesto will examine the barriers and opportunities for change within each stage of the built environment’s process. Running over three days in March, the series of events will culminate in a manifesto outlining steps we can take to Indigenise the built environment.

MProjects

MProjects is a programme of site-specific installations and activations.

Our pick: Making Home architect, writer and educator Tania Davidge, Samantha Donnelly and Sophie Dyring on public housing for women, addressing the issues and policies that led women over 55 to become Australia’s largest growing demographic of homeless people.

MPavilion Chair Commission

MPavilion’s 2021 chair commission was won by Melbourne’s Nüüd Studio with their design ‘The Dancer’ from more than 40 local and international submissions.

Nüüd Studio’s ‘The Dancer’ chair. Photography by Marie Louise.

Skywhalepapa

The father of Patricia Piccinini’s infamous Skywhale, Skywhalepapa will fly for its first time above a city. The inaugural Melbourne launch of this big boy is sure to be a sight to behold.

Skywhalepapa by Patricia Piccinini.

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MPavilion will run from Thursday December 2, 2021 – Saturday April 24, 2022, with an online program beginning Tuesday November 23.

mpavilion.org