Margaret Whitlam Pavilion by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer

Located at the western end of Lake Burley Griffin, the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion is an important facility for the National Arboretum Canberra, with the herringbone roof capturing a panorama of the city and the views of mountains and the lake.

Architects: Tonkin Zulaikha Greer
Location: Forest Drive, Canberra, Australia
Photographs: John Gollings

The Pavilion is located on the south-western tip of the U-shaped Events terrace, looking across the future grassed Amphitheatre to the Visitors Centre and out to the Central Valley and the City of Canberra beyond.

The space opens northwards to an outdoor terrace projecting over the lip of the slope, with fully-openable glass doors.

Inspiration from architect:

The building is kept below the landscaped ridge to the west, so that it is subordinate to the landform, whilst its roof shape is a defined curve in contrast to the rolling topography of the site. The pointed curve of the roof is an emphatic pause in the sweep of the Arboretum’s landscape in this precinct.