The National Gallery of Victoria’s new contemporary gallery will be designed and built by an Australian team, with a design competition to determine the architectural team.
NGV Contemporary will be located at 77 Southbank Boulevard. At 30,000 square metres, it will the largest facility of its kind in Australia, showcasing contemporary art, design, fashion and architecture of local, national and international significance.
The gallery confirmed that an Australian team would design the gallery after the Victorian govenment locked in its funding in the the 2020/21 state budget. The government allocated $1.4 billion to fund the development, making it Australia’s “biggest ever cultural infrstructure project.”
“I’d like to acknowledge the incredible vision and leadership demonstrated by the Victorian government through this commitment to build NGV Contemporary,” said Janet Whiting, president of the NGV Council of Trustees. “This state-of-the-art gallery will be a major attraction for millions of visitors from across Victoria, Australia and the world. NGV Contemporary and the surrounding Melbourne Arts Precinct will be an important beacon for tourism akin to New York’s Highline.”
The larger gallery spaces will accommodate a variety of the NGV’s exhibition program including Triennial, the architecture commission, large-scale contemporary and art commissions, fashion exhibitions, and major exhibitions of the world’s top artists and designers.
The Australian Institute of Architects welcomed the announcement of an Australian design competition for NGV Contemporary.
“We are delighted that the Andrews Government is promoting and supporting Australian architects as part of what they have promised will be ‘Australia’s biggest ever cultural infrastructure project’,” said Tim Leslie, state manager of the Institute’s Victorian chapter.
“We commend the Andrews Government’s for recognising and exercising the power of government procurement to support Australian business.
“Australia’s architects receive worldwide acclaim for their creativity, innovation and truly exceptional design capability.
“Having Australia’s largest contemporary gallery designed by Australians is a tremendous outcome.
“Procuring local architectural talent, which Australia has in abundance, will have a vast multiplier effect on the benefits this landmark project will deliver, concentrating them locally where they are needed most.”
The Institute is working with Development Victoria to finalize the competition documents. “The Institute has also strongly argued that design competitions should preference Australian professionals rather than opening competitions up to international consultants when the expertise exists here,” Leslie continued.
“We have recommended that in the current context governments need to focus on supporting Australian industry by ‘buying local’. This is exactly what the Andrews Government is now delivering and Victorians will reap the rewards for many years to come.”
The redevelopement of the Melbourne Arts Precinct, masterplanned by ARM Architecture and TCL, was first announced in 2018.
Tony Ellwood, NGV director, added, “NGV Contemporary will form an intrinsic part of Melbourne’s creative and cultural identity, a universal civic space where visitors can gather, socialize, learn and interpret our world through a year-round presentation of exhibitions and programs that reflect contemporary life and culture.
“NGV Contemporary will be a dynamic cultural hub that all Victorians will be proud to call their own and present an unrivalled opportunity to showcase Australian and international art, design and architectural practice to the world.”
A new 18,000 square metre public space at the Melbourne Arts Precinct by Hassell and So-il.
The new Melbourne Arts Precinct will also include new 18,000 square public space, to be designed by Hassell and So-il, and upgrades to the Arts Centre Melbourne Theatres building by NH Architecture and Snøhetta. It is the biggest cultural infrastructure project in Australia.
The new public garden will be vibrant, immersive and ever-changing. It act as a “green lung” for Southbank and include a range of spaces for performances, gatherings, and installations and festivals. The design of the garden is ongoing.
“It’s going to create an open space that is the equivalent size of the MCG right in the heart of Melbourne,” said Danny Pearson, minister for creative industries.
Later phases of Melbourne Arts Precinct project will include a new building that will house the Centre for Creativity. The centre will be run by Arts Centre Melbourne with spaces and facilities for arts organizations, new performing arts gallery and an expanded Australian Music Vault.
“This project will rejuvenate our creative heart, bringing visitors and energy back to Melbourne as we rebuild,” said premier Daniel Andrews. “It will showcase the best of our creativity, create thousands of jobs and give people more open green space to relax and take in the best of our city.”
