Melbourne’s Chadstone shopping precinct has expanded with the opening of the Market Pavilion, a large-scale fresh food and dining destination designed by Woods Bagot.
Officially opened in March 2025, the new precinct spans 26,500 square metres and accommodates over 50 retailers offering fresh produce, gourmet foods and artisanal goods. The design draws inspiration from traditional European market halls, with a series of vaulted ceilings and clerestory skylights that introduce natural light and define the pavilion’s architectural character. The structural grid and slab of the original building were retained, allowing for an adaptive reuse approach that reduced construction time and embodied carbon.
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“We are thrilled to see our collaboration with Gandel Group and Vicinity Centres come to life, as the Market Pavilion honours Chadstone’s architectural heritage and Melbourne’s market halls, creating a spacious, top-lit vaulted destination that emerges from the original structure,” says Woods Bagot Associate Principal and project leader, David Christie.
“The Market Pavilion is a sophisticated transformation of an existing portion of the Chadstone Centre,” continues Christie. “We retained the existing slab and structural grid which provided the framework for new, open-air vaulted roofs overhead. The result is an iconic destination for the market spaces below.”
A key feature of the precinct is the ‘Dining Laneway,’ an alfresco area landscaped with planter boxes and illuminated by festoon lighting, designed to support all-day activation. The layout promotes a sense of openness and abundance, with pavilion-like forms that frame retail displays without overpowering them.
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The interior design introduces continental elements such as tilework, structural arches, and generous ceiling voids, creating a vibrant, market-style atmosphere. The vaulted roofscape not only serves an aesthetic function but supports the precinct’s environmental performance.
Woods Bagot Principal and interior design leader, Tracey Wiles, comments: “Like the popular covered markets of Europe, the Market Pavilion is a naturally lit structure comprising pavilion elements in a gridded structure, creating the vibrant, bustling mercantile energy of a commercial produce market.”
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Chadstone Centre Manager Daniel Boyle says The Market Pavilion is delivering an unparalleled market experience for food lovers and retailers: “With the opening of The Market Pavilion, we are redefining the way Melburnians experience food. This precinct is a celebration of quality, craftsmanship and the rich food culture that makes our city unique.”
Meanwhile, sustainability targets were central to the design, which aims for a 5-Star Green Star rating and net-zero operational emissions. Natural ventilation, on-site solar generation and a dedicated waste management system contribute to its environmental credentials.
Developed in collaboration with the Gandel Group and Vicinity Centres, the Market Pavilion is positioned as a major culinary destination, intended to draw over 10 million visitors annually. Its integration of food retail, architecture and sustainable design positions Chadstone as a new epicurean landmark in Melbourne.
Woods Bagot
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Vicinity
Renders
Woods Bagot
