OtherTue 03 Jul 18

2018 Architecture ‘Pavilions’: London’s Serpentine and Melbourne’s MPavilion

Barcelona-based architect Carme Pinós has unveiled the 2018 MPavilion, the fifth civic pavilion commissioned for Melbourne’s annual architecture pop-up.

Pinós’ take on the pavilion follows the recent unveiling of its predecessor – London’s Serpentine Pavilion, the latest iteration of which was revealed last month.

The pavilion pop-up has been a popular activation strategy for urbanists and policy makers and winning its commissions can significantly boost an architect’s profile.

Pinós MPavilion 2018 is the fifth in an ongoing series commissioned by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation and will provide a “sensorial summer experience” in the Queen Victoria Gardens.

Founder of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, Naomi Milgrom said that Pinós’ design facilitates meaningful dialogue about the role of architecture, and what it means to foster socially-inclusive cities in the context of the built environment.

“I’m excited to see Carme’s MPavilion come to life, and to also see the new collaborations and discussions that unfold through her vision.”

Pinós' MPavilion, due to open in October, supersedes the 2017 design of OMA’s Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten. Last year’s MPavilion has found a new home at Monash University’s Clayton Campus.

London's Serpentine Pavilion 2018

Another Spanish-speaking woman architect – and only the second to design the annual Serpentine commission in its 18-year history – Frida Escobedo unveiled the 2018 Pavilion in mid-June.

The Mexican architect is the youngest ever participant.

Escobedo’s Pavilion takes the form of an enclosed courtyard, with two rectangular volumes framed by latticed walls made from grey concrete roofing tiles.

Escobedo told Wallpaper she wanted to create an enclosed courtyard inside the park [London’s Hyde Park] which, in turn, is inside the city of London – a “Russian doll” of interiors.

“We were inspired by La Mezquita [the Mosque] in Cordoba,” Escobedo said.