The humble car wash has been transformed into a pink and shiny piece of public art to encourage people to think about why suburban architecture is so "boring".

The 23-metre pavilion, an exact replica of a car wash at Blackburn in Melbourne's east, has popped up at the National Gallery of Victoria Garden.

Architects M@ Studios made the space to start a conversation about boring suburban architecture, and how most architects focus on the city.

The space will be open throughout the summer. ( ABC News: Justine Longmore )

"Car washes, fast food restaurants, supermarkets and malls become the meeting places of outer suburbia," the NGV's Ewan McEoin said.

"We don't have the same level of quality in terms of civic space, so this is partly a critical analysis of that idea.

"How comfortable do we feel with the banality of suburbia?"

The neon carwash is clad in layers and layers of cricket netting and has ropes for children to climb.

It will also provide a cool respite at the height of summer.

There are areas for children to play and interact within the installation. ( ABC News: Justine Longmore )

"We've got fog pouring out of the roof, we've got mirrored facias all over the top of the building, we've got dangly plastic red strips," Mr McEoin said.

"It's a pretty crazy concept, but it's joyous, it's accessible for people to experience as a work of architecture, but also there's a much more deeper meaning."

The car wash will be in the NGV Garden until the end of March.