Architecture

The future of the concrete-walled MPavilion 10, designed by Japanese architect and 1995 Pritzker Prize laureate Tadao Ando and executed by Australian Sean Godsell, remains unclear. A community-led “Preserve the Pavilion” campaign advocating for the temporary pavilion to remain in Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Gardens beyond its slated removal at the end of June 2025 has received over 2,000 signatures, including those of Pritzker Prize laureates and acclaimed Australian and international architects.
An initiative of the Naomi Milgrim Foundation (NMF) with support from the City of Melbourne and Victorian government, the annual MPavilion is described by the foundation as “Australia’s leading design commission.” Each year, the foundation tasks “an outstanding architect to design a temporary pavilion,” which, following its five-month summer program, is “gifted to the state of Victoria,” the foundation notes.

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The Ando-designed tenth iteration of the pavilion opened in November 2023 and has remained beyond the program’s customary summer period thanks to a City of Melbourne approval that extended its life until 30 June 2025. The April 2024 motion, put forward by the NMF to the Future Melbourne Committee, received unanimous support from council members.
“It’s the only piece of [Ando’s] architecture that’s in Australia, so that in itself is remarkable and deserving of extension of its presence in our city,” then-lord mayor Sally Capp commented at the time.
Now, as the extended removal date approaches, the initiative Preserve the Pavilion is calling for Ando’s work to remain in Queen Victoria Gardens. The group’s website claims that the pavilion’s concrete construction means it “is not possible” for it to be relocated, and that removal will “result in the demolition of the structure.”
The initiative’s open letter has gained support from Pritzker Prize winning architects Álvaro Siza (1992 laureate), Jean Nouvel (2008 laureate), Eduardo Souto de Moura (2011 laureate), and Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA (2010 laureates), as well internationally acclaimed architects John Pawson, Kengo Kuma, Manuel Aires Mateus and Patrik Schumacher, among others.
In a personal letter of support, Siza commented, “As it happens with all projects by Tadao Ando, this project shows a quality that cannot be erased.”
MPavilion comissioner Naomi Milgrom also supports retaining the pavilion. “In keeping with the project’s decade-long legacy – and as Tadao Ando’s only work in the Southern Hemisphere – we hope this pavilion can remain for an extended period as a gift to all Melburnians,” she said.
Architects of past MPavilions David Gianotten of OMA (MPavilion 4, 2017) and Rachaporn Choochuey of All Zone (MPavilion 9, 2022), as well as Australian Institute of Architects gold medallists Peter Stutchbury and John Denton, have signed the campaign’s open letter. A communique from the campaign’s organisers also notes that the NMF has received many letters in support of the pavilion remaining in place for longer, including from Institute CEO Cameron Bruhn, and current Victorian chapter president and national president-elect David Wagner.

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Questions remain about whether the current site will be found appropriate for the pavilion, which was intended to be disassembled and relocated to a permanent home. Despite recommending support for the pavilion’s extension at the time of the 2024 approval, a report by City of Melbourne general manager of infrastructure and amenity Rick Kwasek raised concerns around the safety, security, maintenance and accessibility of the building. It noted that the design is not consistent with best-practice gender equity place principles, that it is susceptible to graffiti, and that the walled nature of the pavilion “precludes through views and movements across the site,” presenting “potential risks to the structure [and] public safety.”
It also claimed that Queen Victoria Gardens is “a fragile environment, not designed to accommodate permanent structures and regular activation for events or large gatherings” and that granting “the extension could be viewed as opening the door for further advocacy on permanent retention.” Despite this, it was noted at the Future Melbourne Committee’s approval meeting that the “NMF have confirmed that the request applies to one year only.”
The NMF, which is accountable for the dismantling and repurposing of the pavilion at the end of its life, has also been responsible for the maintenance and security of the pavilion during the one-year extension.
Architectural critic Paul Walker’s December 2023 review of the pavilion for ArchitectureAu expressed some doubts about the project’s eco-credibility. He observed that “at the press launch of the new pavilion, when asked about this issue [of sustainability], Godsell reasonably responded that the concrete used in the building was as ‘green’ as could be.” On the issue of recycalbility, Walker pointed out that the walls “could be crushed to be used as aggregate in … more concrete.”

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The City of Melbourne is set to convene to decide the pavilion’s future, though the date of the meeting is yet to be confirmed.
The open letter can be accessed online. More

The 2025 Serpentine Pavilion, designed by Bangladeshi architect and educator Marina Tabassum and her firm Marina Tabassum Architects, opens to the public on 6 June.
The pavilion, titled A Capsule in Time, is located at the Serpentine South Gallery in London. Inspired by an arched garden canopy, the pavilion’s form resembles a capsule with its mass divided into four portions and an open-air courtyard positioned at the centre. One of the sections is kinetic and can slide to connect or disconnect with the neighbouring elements, effectively transforming the pavilion into a different space.
According to a communique published by Serpentine, the design harnesses light as a way to enhance the qualities of the space. A timber and translucent facade gently diffuses natural light throughout the pavilion. “Tabassum’s Pavilion, like much of Tabassum’s previous projects, considers the threshold between inside and outside, the tactility of material, lightness and darkness, height and volume.”

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In the courtyard stands a semi-mature ginkgo tree, around which the pavilion has been built. Serpentine stated that the ginkgo was selected because the species is “showing tolerance to climate change and contributes to a diverse treescape in Kensington Gardens.” Serpentine confirmed that the tree will be replanted in the park after the Pavilion’s exhibition.
Tabassum’s pavilion marks the 25th year of the Serpentine Pavilion commission.
The pavilion will be open to the public from 6 June 2025 until 26 October 2025. More

An Australian artist and researcher has been awarded the Silver Lion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. Alongside fellow academic Vladan Joler, Kate Crawford received the prestigious prize for a large-scale visual manifesto installation that explores the relationship between technology and power across the past five centuries.
Spanning more than 24 metres long and 3 metres high, Calculating Empires: A Genealogy of Technology and Power Since 1500 “charts a global history of control — from colonial expansion and militarisation to automation and artificial intelligence — revealing how the legacies of empire continue to shape today’s digital infrastructures,” a release from the artists reads.

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“The work begins in the year 1500, tracing how global trade routes, scientific instruments and systems of classification enabled the rise of European imperial power. These systems — cataloguing, extraction and enclosure — laid the groundwork for the concentrated power and technological structures that define the twenty-first century,” the communique adds.
The work’s authors have eschewed a linear history, instead presenting their research in what they described as a “visual tapestry: a richly detailed, multi-layered map that invites audiences to see the present through the lens of the past.” Thousands of hand-drawn illustrations and original texts are woven into the work, which was created over five years.
The installation was unveiled at the opening weekend in the Venice Arsenale, having initially debuted at Milan’s Fondazione Prada in 2023. Prior to the work’s exhibition in the biennale, it had been adapted into site-specific presentations at various global institutions, including KW Institute, Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Kunsthalle Wien, Mori Art Museum and Jeu de Paume.

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Reflecting on the work’s current presentation at the Venice Architecture Biennale, Crawford noted, “It’s very fitting to show this work in the historic Arsenale, once a military factory and a site of early mass production to build galleys. This latest iteration of Calculating Empires was adapted specifically to reflect Venetian history and it invites audiences to explore how the infrastructures of empire endure within today’s technological systems. The project reveals how technological power is never neutral, but always entangled with political, economic, and environmental forces.”
Chief executive of presentation partner Powerhouse Sydney Lisa Havilah said, “Kate Crawford and Vladan Joler’s work challenged how we understand technology’s role in shaping the world. It exemplifies the critical, cross-disciplinary practice Powerhouse supports.”
The Sydney institution will exhibit a version of Calculating Empires as part of an international tour. Dates are yet to be announced. More

Deco Australia’s aluminium cladding system, DecoClad, has met the requirements of Australian Standard AS 4284, confirming its compliance with the weatherproofing provisions of the National Construction Code (NCC).
The test, carried out by independent testing agency Azuma Design, evaluated the performance of the system under simulated extreme weather conditions. A full facade assembly, including DecoClad boards, accessories, and a window unit, was mounted in a purpose-built test rig and subjected to structural loading and water penetration trials. These included static and dynamic pressure water penetration tests ranging from 750 Pa to 1500 Pa, as well as simulated cyclonic wind loads of up to 2500 Pa – equivalent to wind speeds of approximately 160 kilometres per hour.The testing followed verification methods outlined in Section F3V1 of the NCC. It assessed the system’s ability to prevent water ingress and maintain structural integrity under significant environmental stress, such as wind-driven rain and pressure differentials.
“Passing this weatherproof testing demonstrates that our DecoClad aluminium cladding not only delivers modern, architectural appeal but also provides the safety and durability today’s building facades demand,” said Richard Hamber, General Manager at Deco Australia.“It also provides designers, architects and builders peace of mind that they are specifying and building with a cladding product that fully complies to the National Construction Code.”The results support DecoClad’s suitability for use in applications where weatherproofing and code compliance are critical performance factors in facade design. More

The second instalment of Tasmania Makes 25, held between 1 June and 21 September, features works from celebrated Tasmanian designers, such as Craig Ashton, Travis Bell, Geoff Farquhar, Benjamin Grieve-Johnson, Elliot Hall, Sharon O’Donnell and Stuart Williams. The exhibition will showcase a variety of design disciplines, including furniture, ceramics, jewellery, textiles and object design.

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Micro: Macro, presented until 29 June, explores the role of models in creating meaning and understanding. The Sydney-based exhibition showcases a series of models from a diverse range of disciplines, including architecture, engineering, science, mathematics, medicine and art. Models have been considered a valuable educational tool since the late-nineteenth century. Early models of wax, papier-mâché, glass, iron and brass are now appreciated as works of art in and of themselves, but also as records of the time. With advancements in technology, the role of models has evolved, taking on new forms via modern processes such as 3D printing and AI. The models featured as part of the exhibition vary in format, material and intention.

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For the third iteration of By/Product – an exhibition series that challenges artists to repurpose discarded materials into collectable furniture, art and craft – Locki Humphrey presents Oxide, a collection of works constructed from the remnants of industrial manufacturing, including discarded steel and textile waste. Among the exhibition’s inventive highlights is the use of prickly pear – a cactus species known for its invasive spread across Australia – as a sustainable leather alternative for furniture upholstery. This Melbourne-based exhibition runs until 14 June.

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Parlour Lab 37 delves into the potential of upcycling waste in the built environment. Sofia Colabella and Kate Skillington – both architects and lecturers within the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning – will unpack how innovative design methods and prototyping can transform surplus and waste materials into sustainable building solutions. The pair will highlight their current research project, titled [RE]Maker, which explores turning wetsuit surplus materials into architectural design solutions. This one-hour online event, hosted by Parlour as part of their Lab series, will be held on 13 June. More

The Alastair Swayn Foundation has announced it is now accepting applications for its 2025 grants program, with successful applicants to be awarded funding for design-related research.
The 2025 grants program opens on 3 June, with three funding streams available: International Research Grant, Australian Design Grants and Design Audio Grants. Individuals, groups and organisations can apply for any of the streams until 3 July.
The International Research Grant, which awards $20,000, supports successful candidates to undertake international research that strengthens the dialogue between Australian and global design practice. The Australian Design Grants will allocate $10,000 to recipients to conduct architecture and design research that tackles key challenges or opportunities across Australia’s designed and built environments. Design Audio Grants will award $8,000 to content creators for the production of design and architecture focused podcasts, radio series or open lecture recordings.
Simon Robinson, a previous International Research Grant recipient and the director of the not-for-profit multidisciplinary design and research practice Office, explored public housing renewal through a global lens.
“Through this grant, I was able to visit and catalogue 19 international examples of successfully refurbished multi-residential buildings. The grant has allowed us to broaden the discourse around public housing renewal, ensuring that global precedents inform local decision-making. I hope this research contributes to more sustainable and community-focused approaches to housing policy in Australia,” said Robinson.
“I am incredibly thankful to the Alastair Swayn Foundation for making this work possible and for fostering critical conversations across design, policy, and social impact.”
For full details or to apply, visit the Alastair Swayn Foundation website. More

Entries are now open for the 2025 Holdmark Innovation Award, an annual accolade that recognises innovation and excellence in the built environment.
Now in its third year, the award will be presented to one exemplary Australian-designed project completed in 2024 that demonstrates forward-thinking solutions to challenges faced by Australia’s urban environments. A prize of $10,000 will be awarded to the winning project.
Buildings, built structures or a key component in a structure’s design or construction can be entered. Innovation may be demonstrated through the application of emerging technologies, regenerative practices, pioneering research or sustainable construction methods.
The jury comprises Sydney Design Week curator Keinton Butler; director of design excellence at Government Architect NSW Olivia Hyde; Professor Greg Morrison, School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment at Western Sydney University; chief operating officer of Holdmark Property Group Kevin Nassif, and co-director of Youssofzay Hart Belqis Youssofzay.
Previously awarded projects include Phive in Parramatta Square by Design Inc. with Lacoste and Stevenson, and Manuelle Gautrand Architecture, which received an award in 2023. Additionally, Wilam Ngarrang Retrofit by Kennedy Nolan with Finding Infinity was honoured with the award in 2024. Phive was selected as the winner for its “ingenious rooftop design” and effective passive climate strategies while Wilam Ngarrang Retrofit was recognised for “its delivery of an energy-efficient space with both social and sustainability agendas at its core.”
Director of architecture at Kennedy Nolan Michael Macleod said, “Innovative projects can only have significant impact if people hear about them. We found the Holdmark Innovation Award to be a unique opportunity,” said Macleod.
The Holdmark Innovation Award program is presented by Powerhouse in partnership with Sydney Design Week principal partner Holdmark Property Group. Applications can be made until 30 June 2025. The award will be presented to the successful recipient at the annual Sydney Design Week event in September 2025. For more information, visit the Powerhouse website. More

The ACT Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects has welcomed draft reforms released by the state government to increase the supply and diversity of housing within the territory’s existing urban footprint. The proposed policies target zoning changes within existing Canberra suburbs to unlock available land and enable more low-rise, “missing middle” housing types across the city.
According to a communique from the state government, the focus of the Missing Middle Reforms is to facilitate the construction of 30,000 new homes by 2030, yet the release noted that “the reforms go beyond simply building more homes. The aim is to create more diverse housing options that blend seamlessly into Canberra’s suburbs.”
In addition to the zoning changes, the ACT government is working with experts from the local design and construction industry to develop a Missing Middle Housing Design Guide, which will provide guidance on the design of multi-occupancy houses on a block, townhouses, terrace homes and low-rise apartments that respect the local neighbourhood character.
Architect and director of DNA Architects Rob Henry has been consulting with the ACT government on the Missing Middle Housing Reforms on behalf of the Institute.
“Providing high-quality, social and affordable housing is essential to building an inclusive and equitable city,” Henry said. “By ensuring housing solutions are well-designed, sustainable, and integrated into diverse neighbourhoods, the ACT can meet the needs of vulnerable populations and low-income residents.”
“Architects are already working to create designs that prioritise energy efficiency, adaptability and liveability, enhancing the long-term value and social outcomes of housing projects while supporting broader housing affordability goals,” he continued.
The state government is inviting feedback on the proposed reforms until 3 July.
The Institute has welcomed the consultation put forward by the ACT government. They intend to review the proposed guides and amendments to ensure they address the short-term demand for missing middle housing types as well as future urban expansion.
“The recognition of place is paramount to building communities, not just houses,” said Henry. “To ensure long-term growth and mobility, the ACT must preserve and expand public transport corridors, including future extensions of the light rail network.”
Canberrans can have their say on the reforms online. More