The Northern Territory government has submitted a development application for the new State Square art gallery designed by Darwin practice Ashford Architects with Clare Design and Hully Liveris, revealing the design for the first time.
Part of the wider development of Darwin’s CBD funded through a 10-year city deal with the federal government, the gallery will be located on the former Juror’s carpark adjacent to the Supreme Court on Smith Street.
Lindsay Clare, director and co-founder of Clare Design, said the gallery would promote contemporary dialogues across Indigenous, non-Indigenous and Asian art while facilitating high-profile events, competitions and festivals.
“The gallery’s architecture is inspired by the Territory’s unique geology, landscape and climate,” he said. “It addresses the environmental imperatives of the tropics through a mix of innovative and traditional solutions to protect occupants and artworks from the heat, glare, rain and humidity.
“The solutions include a fly roof and rain-screen walls that ventilate and shade the Gallery envelope, protecting it from direct heat-gain and weather. Importantly these solutions, combined with landscaping reduce the ‘heat island’ effect and create a cool zone around the Gallery.”
A masterplan for State Square and Darwin Civic completed by TCL and Troppo Architects in 2020 outlined how the area around the historic public park will be transformed. The former Chan Building has been demolished and will be replaced by an open, grassy area, while a former 90-bay carpark will also be replaced with a landscaped public space for events.
State Square Art Gallery by Ashford Architects with Clare Design and Hully Liveris.
The art gallery will sit adjacent to the park’s “Central Heart” a “playful, shaded, flexible and active” space for events and the everyday. The gallery itself will have a “generous grand veranda with cafes and room for events and festivals.”
The Northern Territory arts minister Chansey Paech said the gallery would help make the park an iconic tourist destination.
“This project will provide quality exhibition space to showcase our significant art and material culture collections, host Australian and international exhibitions, and deliver learning and participation opportunities for the community,” he said.
The development application for the gallery is now with the Development Consent Authority and will be placed on public exhibit from 25 June. If approved, construction is expected to be completed by late-2023.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
