Every Living Thing: Tadao Ando’s MPavilion Transforms Into Living Environmental Laboratory.

Artist’s impression of MARS II at MPavillion.

MARS II courtesy of Reef Design Lab.

Above and below: BLAKItecture HOME event, from Season 11 at MPavillion. Photo: Kayla May Petty-Kook.

Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Gardens is set to transform into a hub of ecological exploration as MPavilion, the flagship initiative of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, unveiled its third instalment of Season 11, “Every Living Thing”. Running from February 15 to March 6, 2025, Tadao Ando’s architectural showpiece will host a series of site-specific installations, performances, and discussions that delve into the intricate relationships between humans and nature.

At the heart of the program sits MARS II, an innovative installation by Alex Goad and Reef Design Lab. This modular artificial reef structure, destined for Port Phillip Bay, showcases how design can actively contribute to marine conservation. Goad’s work, already celebrated in collections at MoMA and the National Gallery of Victoria, bridges the gap between architectural innovation and environmental preservation.

The series extends beyond traditional design boundaries, featuring The Cloud Maker, an award-winning five-piece band that reimagines folkloric tales through contemporary sound performance. Meanwhile, the BLAKitecture forum brings together Indigenous voices like Bradley Kerr and Clarence Slockee to explore design through Aboriginal knowledge systems.

Perhaps most intriguing is the Materials for Coexistence experience, where visitors can engage with regenerative design through all their senses – from tasting sustainable futures to touching second-hand garments and experiencing the unique scent of biodegradable bioplastics. It’s a hands-on demonstration of how design can shape a more sustainable future.

“Every Living Thing” represents a bold intersection of art, science, and design, where every installation and performance contributes to a larger conversation about ecological interconnection. The program invites visitors to experience how design can foster meaningful relationships between all living things, from the smallest microbe to the largest architectural structure.

All events are free and open to the public, making this cutting-edge design discourse accessible to everyone. Visit “Every Living Thing” at MPavilion, Queen Victoria Gardens, Melbourne CBD, from February 15 until March 6, 2025.

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MPavillion by Tadao Ando. Photos: Rory Gardiner.

[Images courtesy of MPavilion.]