ARM Architecture and exhibition designer Local Projects have delivered a $34 million revitalization of gallery and play spaces for the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, marking its largest redevelopment since opening its doors in 2001.
The 2,500-square-metre redevelopment, comprising the revamped Great Southern Land gallery and the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre, follows ARM’s initial museum building design, conceived as a “Boolean string” in 1997, along with its subsequent extensions over the last 20 years.
The redevelopment builds on the architectural themes established in the 1997 museum concept, now used to shape a new window and lakeside stair and a revitalized mezzanine at the centre of the exhibition space.
Being a social history museum, the renovation was undertaken to “keep pace” with the changes the nation has experienced over the last 20 years, museum director Mathew Trinca said.
Based off of ARM’s masterplan, Local Projects revitalized the exhibition space by dramatically opening up the interior volume to improve the exhibition’s layout and navigation tools. The completed redevelopment includes the museum’s largest gallery space to date, as well as new immersive play spaces for children.
Architects revitalized the exhibition space by dramatically opening up the interior volume to improve the exhibition’s layout and navigation tools.
Image:
Anne Stroud
The expansion with the integration of new technology has enabled the introduction of 2,000 additional traditional and digital objects to be displayed in the museum. The new design increases connectivity to Lake Burley Griffin, opening the lakeside facade through a “dramatic, curved and red glazed stair”.
ARM director and original museum architect Howard Raggatt said the exhibition design “realizes the original intent for the museum” with the layout leaving room to experience and appreciate the unique form of the building.
“The design now allows for spectacular views over Canberra, while the Discovery Centre opens a part of the museum not previously accessed,” said Raggatt. “The redevelopment fulfils a key step in the overall vision for the masterplan and we look forward to the unveiling of remaining stages over the coming years.”
Source: Architecture - architectureau
