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Issue 59 - The Life Outside Issue

Issue 59

The Life Outside Issue

Introducing the Life Outside issue of Habitus magazine. With life increasingly being absorbed into a digital space, there is never a more important moment to hold something tangible. In this context, the power of nature to have a physiological impact on our sense of wellbeing has never been more important. So how can we cultivate the benefits of the our natural environment in the most intimate of places – our homes? This was the question that helped to bring this issue of Habitus to life.

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An Urban Lighthouse
HappeningsAleesha Callahan

An Urban Lighthouse

The design of the seventh MPavilion has been revealed, designed by Venice-based MAP studio; and Expressions of Interest are now open to build out the program of talks and events.


A glimmering, geometric kaleidoscope design coined ‘The Lightcatcher’ is set to illuminate Melbourne with a range of cultural events over summer, running from 11 November 2021 through to 20 March 2022.

MPavilion is an initiative of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation with a temporary public installation set within the Queen Victoria Gardens each year. The Lightcatcher project is the vision of Venice-based architecture, urbanism and design practice MAP studio, founded by Francesco Magnani and Traudy Pelzel.

Traudy Pelzel and Francesco Magnani

“The structure we imagine is a shimmering device that qualifies itself as an urban lighthouse that hosts and enlightens the cultural activities planned for the 2021 summer season in Melbourne…. A kaleidoscopic structure that reflects and amplifies activities, people and colours. For this reason, we call it ‘The Lightcatcher,’” shares Trudy.

Comprised of steel tubing and mirror-finish panels that reflect light, as well as a shading device, MPavilion 2021 will appear to hover over the ground, shining on the people and activities taking place below.

The project has been in the works for more than two years, with original plans slated for 2020 and then postponed in response to the global pandemic. MAP studio is renowned for responding to sites in a celebratory and sensitive way, which makes the pavilion’s return to Queen Victoria Gardens even more timely.

The design of the pavilion has inspired five thematic jumping off points to run throughout the five-month-long initiative, and MPavilion is now calling for Expressions of Interest for talks, workshops and events, including the M_Curator mentoring initiative.

MPavilion Key Dates

  • MPavilion’s expression of interest closes Sunday 15 August 2021, 5pm
  • M_Curator applications close Sunday 15 August 2021, 5pm
  • MPavilion 2021 will be open free to the public from11 November 2021 until 27 March 2022

 

See more about the program at mpavilion.org


About the Author

Aleesha Callahan

Aleesha Callahan is the editor of Habitus. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Aleesha seeks out the unique people, projects and products that define the Indo Pacific region. Aleesha was previously the editor of Indesignlive.com and has written and contributed to various publications and brands in her 10 years in the architecture and design industry, bringing intimate insight to her stories having first trained and practised as an interior designer. Her passion for mid-century design and architecture began while living and working in Berlin.

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installationMAP studioMPavilionNaomi Milgrom Foundation


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Issue 59 - The Life Outside Issue

Issue 59

The Life Outside Issue

Introducing the Life Outside issue of Habitus magazine. With life increasingly being absorbed into a digital space, there is never a more important moment to hold something tangible. In this context, the power of nature to have a physiological impact on our sense of wellbeing has never been more important. So how can we cultivate the benefits of the our natural environment in the most intimate of places – our homes? This was the question that helped to bring this issue of Habitus to life.

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