The Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne has struggled to establish a strong identity for itself over its two decades at Federation Square, according to the architect behind a major overhaul of the museum unveiled on 10 February.
The centre never had a purpose-built home, and instead was spread out over four levels in the Alfred Deakin Building originally earmarked for a shopping centre.
“Despite the great successes that ACMI has had, this has continued to present a lot of challenges for the way the institution functions and the way that visitors find their way in,” said Tim Black, principal of BKK Architects, the firm behind the $40 million renewal.
Working with US experience design studio Publicis Sapient/Second Story, who designed the museum’s new centrepiece exhibition The Story of the Moving Image, BKK has reshuffled the various functions of the centre to make for a more cohesive experience. The key design move was to establish a new laneway running though the centre, along with a “living stair” that encourages visitors to dwell.
New signage at ACMI.
Image: Shannon McGrath
The idea was to encourage new groups of visitors to engage with the centre, while also allowing for cross-pollination between the different demographics that are already attracted to the centre, such as the generally older crowd who go the ACMI cinema and the young families and children who frequent the Screen Worlds permanent exhibition.
“Our proposition was thoroughly an urban one insofar as we looked to leverage the very best of the Alfred Deakin Building, which is that fabulous Atrium space, and reimagine it as a laneway that not only leads pedestrians from Flinders Street up to Federation Square but actually starts to stitch back together all of those different offerings that ACMI has always had available to them,” said Black.
This move was informed by Lab Architecture Studio’s original vision for Federation Square, which promised improved connections between the city and the river which were not realized. In terms of the architectural language and materials of the new additions, BKK has attempted to differentiate ACMI from the rest of Federation Square, so that it reads as a separate institution.
“While there’s an acknowledgement that these assertions are new, there are subtle homages back to the existing architecture,” said Deb Adams, senior associate at BKK Architects.
The Story of the Moving Image exhibition by Publicis Sapient/Second Story.
Image: Shannon McGrath
“We use perforated metals because that’s quite prolific [throughout Federation Square] but we use them in a different manner, making them translucent for instance on the living stair. We have coffered ceilings, which are again an ACMI reinterpretation of the original Lab Architecture scheme, but ours are circular, not fractal and rectilinear.
“We’ve tried to pay a nod to the original architecture, which is much loved by Melbourne and which we love as well, but also to impart ACMI’s identity into the building, which is something they’ve grappled with for so long, to really say ‘this is our space’.”
A wayfinding and signage scheme designed by Melbourne design firm Büro North adds to the unique identity.
Visitors will also experience the museum in a whole different way thanks to an array of interactive, digital experiences powered by a new ACMI-developed experience operating system (XOS).
ACMI director Katrina Sedgwick said, “After five years of preparation, design and hard work, I’m delighted to reveal the new ACMI to the world. Our redevelopment is not only visually stunning, it reimagines what a museum experience can be. From our relaxing dwell spaces to our state-of-the-art galleries and education labs, we can’t wait to welcome visitors back.”
Source: Architecture - architectureau
