[VIS] Adelaide Contemporary Art Gallery - Designs on Page 6

[Honey of a City]

Said it before, but Government House would be the perfect entrance to the Adelaide Contemporary. Tear down that wall and open the front garden to North Terrace. Retain the current building but convert it to a grand entrance, administration and function rooms. Then attach at the back a sweeping iconic glass building, filling the current wasted and massive Govt House backyard footprint. Then cascading down to the Parade Ground transformed to a less desolate event space, flowing down to a sculpture park along both banks of the river between Morphett and Albert bridges. Build an amazing footbridge connecting the gallery to the Festival Plaza, with stairs down to the new tram stop in the middle of KWS. The artistic paradox of passing through a 19th century colonial building to a bold contemporary art space just sings. Build an amazing elevated footbridge connecting the side (second entrance) of the gallery to the Festival Plaza, with stairs down to the new tram stop in the middle of KWS. Move the Governor to one of the heritage buildings in the ORAH until the Republic vote makes the role redundant. Integrate the AC with the arts precinct, instead of sticking it down the far end. Give Adelaide a true heart.

[Patrick_27]

Said it before, but Government House would be the perfect entrance to the Adelaide Contemporary. Tear down that wall and open the front garden to North Terrace. Retain the current building but convert it to a grand entrance, administration and function rooms. Then attach at the back a sweeping iconic glass building, filling the current wasted and massive Govt House backyard footprint. Then cascading down to the Parade Ground transformed to a less desolate event space, flowing down to a sculpture park along both banks of the river between Morphett and Albert bridges. Build an amazing footbridge connecting the gallery to the Festival Plaza, with stairs down to the new tram stop in the middle of KWS. The artistic paradox of passing through a 19th century colonial building to a bold contemporary art space just sings. Build an amazing elevated footbridge connecting the side (second entrance) of the gallery to the Festival Plaza, with stairs down to the new tram stop in the middle of KWS. Move the Governor to one of the heritage buildings in the ORAH until the Republic vote makes the role redundant. Integrate the AC with the arts precinct, instead of sticking it down the far end. Give Adelaide a true heart.

Your plans are way too ambitious and costly; I'm not saying that as an typical Adelaide whinge-r, I'm saying that as a realist. Not to mention, you seem to be under the impression that Australia is on the verge of becoming a Republic?

[Honey of a City]

Said it before, but Government House would be the perfect entrance to the Adelaide Contemporary. Tear down that wall and open the front garden to North Terrace. Retain the current building but convert it to a grand entrance, administration and function rooms. Then attach at the back a sweeping iconic glass building, filling the current wasted and massive Govt House backyard footprint. Then cascading down to the Parade Ground transformed to a less desolate event space, flowing down to a sculpture park along both banks of the river between Morphett and Albert bridges. Build an amazing footbridge connecting the gallery to the Festival Plaza, with stairs down to the new tram stop in the middle of KWS. The artistic paradox of passing through a 19th century colonial building to a bold contemporary art space just sings. Build an amazing elevated footbridge connecting the side (second entrance) of the gallery to the Festival Plaza, with stairs down to the new tram stop in the middle of KWS. Move the Governor to one of the heritage buildings in the ORAH until the Republic vote makes the role redundant. Integrate the AC with the arts precinct, instead of sticking it down the far end. Give Adelaide a true heart.

Your plans are way too ambitious and costly; I'm not saying that as an typical Adelaide whinge-r, I'm saying that as a realist. Not to mention, you seem to be under the impression that Australia is on the verge of becoming a Republic?

If too ambitious and too costly were the drivers we wouldn't have the New RAH. If we're talking about establishing an international magnet to put Adelaide on the map then big ideas are the starting point. The too hard mentality leads to mediocrity at best, stagnation at worst. Slap bang in the middle of the CBD we have an enclave closed to the public except for a few days a year, performing a 19th century function in a 21st century world. We have an appetite for a world class venue to house a massive modern art collection hidden away for years in warehouses. So bring the hidden away treasure to the hidden away site and tell the world about it. Wherever the AC is sited it's going to be expensive. So to maximize the return you need to maximize the vision. Re the Republic: I didn't intend to make a case or predict a timeframe for it, except to advocate for the Govt House site on the premise that one day the institution it will become redundant and there is a contemporary opportunity to get ahead of the game.

[rhino]

Very bold. I like your thinking, and your explanation and description of the big picture, from Government House to the Festival Centre. Also your good description of the Governor's role, it's sunset, and, therefore, the case for shifting his/her residence. Well done.

[Mr Smith]

+2. Love the idea.

But as far as the future of the Governor goes, I recall that under the 'minimalist' Republic State Governors would remain. Sounds utterly ridiculous I know but there you have it.

The other issue is the ceremonial malarkey to open State Parliament. I think the Governor waddles down to Parliament House, or the other way around, the new Premier and cabinet waltz up to Govt House for a high tea.

Maybe give the Governor access to the entire top floor of the Intercontinental. The gardens are completely wasted ATM.

[ml69]

Said it before, but Government House would be the perfect entrance to the Adelaide Contemporary. Tear down that wall and open the front garden to North Terrace. Retain the current building but convert it to a grand entrance, administration and function rooms. Then attach at the back a sweeping iconic glass building, filling the current wasted and massive Govt House backyard footprint. Then cascading down to the Parade Ground transformed to a less desolate event space, flowing down to a sculpture park along both banks of the river between Morphett and Albert bridges. Build an amazing footbridge connecting the gallery to the Festival Plaza, with stairs down to the new tram stop in the middle of KWS. The artistic paradox of passing through a 19th century colonial building to a bold contemporary art space just sings. Build an amazing elevated footbridge connecting the side (second entrance) of the gallery to the Festival Plaza, with stairs down to the new tram stop in the middle of KWS. Move the Governor to one of the heritage buildings in the ORAH until the Republic vote makes the role redundant. Integrate the AC with the arts precinct, instead of sticking it down the far end. Give Adelaide a true heart.

I also agree that current Government House site would be a perfect location for AC (although my preference would be to build it on the lawns in front so that the gallery can front onto North Tce).

However the reality is that if AC is to be built, it will inevitably be on the old RAH site. That's now a given, because there will be constant pressure on the state government to "do something" with old RAH, and do something significant.

[claybro]

I'm not sure the area around government house, including the heritage restrictions on the building itself really lend that location to the huge bold vision required to do it justice. It would end up the worst of both worlds. A compromised heritage site, coupled with a "smallish" restricted venue. Done properly, it will require more space and a blank canvas to really be adventurous. BTW, I am all for completely opening the grounds of GH as a manicured public park, and using the building for ceremonial purposes. The old RAH site has the space and adjacent land in botanic park for large scale public art and interactive exhibitions.

[PeFe]

Just found this on the internet......did I miss the official government announcement last week?

International competition to design new Adelaide art gallery


South Australian Museum (left) and Art Gallery of South Australia (right) along the revitalized North Terrace by Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design. Image: John Gollings

The South Australian government has launched a two-stage international design competition for a new art gallery in centre of Adelaide.

Known as Adelaide Contemporary, the proposed 15,000-square-metre gallery will be a new landmark for the city – a “unique art destination” that combines a contemporary art gallery with a public sculpture park and meeting place.

The government envisions the proposed gallery as being “uniquely Adelaide,” drawing on the city’s progressive culture and reputation as a “city of festivals.”

The gallery will be situated at the eastern end of the former Royal Adelaide Hospital on North Terrace, adjacent to the Adelaide Botanic Garden. The site, 400 metres from the Art Gallery of South Australia, will bookend the “cultural boulevard” of the city on North Terrace.

The gallery will be the first new building commission for the Art Gallery of South Australia since 1996, when the historic building by government architect Alfred Simpson was restored and extended by Peddle Thorp Walker and Robert Dickson.

The project will integrate art, education, nature and people and will feature accessible community meeting spaces. The competition brief calls for an “environmentally aware and future-facing design.”

The gallery will be home to the world’s first “Gallery of Time” which will feature South Australia’s collection of historic and contemporary Indigenous art and works by Asian and European artists. It will also require spaces for internationally significant installations, “blockbuster” temporary exhibitions and spaces to exhibit film, performance and design.

The two-stage competition comprises an initial open call for expressions of interest, open to Australian and international architects. The government is seeking architect-led teams that also include landscape architects and may include way finding specialists, accessibility consultants, artists or other creative collaborators.

Up six teams will be selected to develop concept designs for stage two. Teams proceeding to stage two must include Australian registered architects. A $90,000 honorarium will be paid to each stage-two shortlisted team.

The competition jury will be chaired by Michael Lynch, former chief executive of the Sydney Opera House, former chief executive of the Southbank Centre in London and former chief executive of the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong. The full jury is yet to be announced.

The shortlist will be announced in mid-December 2017 and the winner will be announced in late-May or early June 2018. A public exhibition of shortlisted designs will be held in Adelaide prior to jury deliberations.

The competition will inform final business case and funding approval for the project.

Adelaide Contemporary will be a key component of an innovative, mixed-use urban quarter in the redevelopment of the former Royal Adelaide Hospital site.

In September 2017, the South Australian government dumped the private consortium chosen to development the former hospital site because the final proposal did not represent the best value for taxpayers.

The government, through its regeneration agency Renewal SA, have taken control of the redevelopment of seven-hectare site. As well as a new gallery, the government’s vision for the precinct includes a new minimum five-star hotel; new uses for the heritage buildings; and returning two hectares of the site to the adjacent Botanic Gardens and has sought a landscape architect for the design. The government plans to open up 70 percent of the site to the public, as well as develop educational and research facilities and spaces for commercial tenancies.

The private proposal planned to construct 1080 apartments, 150 student dwellings and 60 supported residential aged care dwellings. The government plans to substantially reduce the residential development, instead focusing on student accommodation, aged-care living and short-term accommodation.

Expressions of interest close 24 November. To make a submission, or for more information on the competition, click here.

https://architectureau.com/articles/int ... t-gallery/

[Norman]

Just found this on the internet......did I miss the official government announcement last week?

I think it happened when the ORAH contract fell over, so that overpowered this announcement.

[Nathan]

Competition was on the cards well before the contract fall over. The official launch of the comp was Friday.
https://competitions.malcolmreading.co. ... n-launches

[ml69]

That's the first time I've read that it will have 15,000 sqm floor area (earlier reports had Nick Mitzevich stating that he wanted a 25,000 sqm facility, but that was always an aspirational figure). 15,000 sqm is still a very sizeable building.

[Mpol03]

Really hope the design of this will be innovative and unique.
More galleries in this city the better.

[ml69]

That's the first time I've read that it will have 15,000 sqm floor area (earlier reports had Nick Mitzevich stating that he wanted a 25,000 sqm facility, but that was always an aspirational figure). 15,000 sqm is still a very sizeable building.

Finished reading the very detailed architectural brief. The brief calls for a 15,000 sqm building with capacity to extend to a full size 19,500 sqm building.

The brief asks for a building with a 4000-5000 sqm footprint, thereby suggesting a building of approx 3-4 storeys.

It also says that a north-south pedestrian axis from North Tce to Palm House in the Botanic Gardens is proposed, which effectively leaves the Adelaide Contemporary site as approximately where the eastern hospital wing currently is, and also taking in approximately half the North Tce car park.

I like the approach with this particular architectural competition, compared to the Old RAH ideas competition a couple of years ago (which has gone nowhere). It isn't an open "ideas" competition, where anyone can design a concept and enter. Instead, 6 short-listed architects prepare designs in the second stage of the competition (after getting through the initial expressions of interest first stage). Hence these 6 designs are likely to come from architects who already have a track record.

I believe that we are likely to get a very strong design out of this process, but one that is realistic at the same time. We just need to build a strong business case and fund it!

[Llessur2002]

World’s top architects have designs on new Adelaide Contemporary art gallery

SIX of the world’s most adventurous international architecture firms — including the company behind Denmark’s distinctive LEGO House — have been chosen as finalists to design the proposed Adelaide Contemporary art gallery.

Each overseas finalist has teamed with an Australian company — including four which are based or began in Adelaide — as part of their bid.

Denmark’s BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), best known for its LEGO House, teamed with Adelaide’s JPE Design Studio.

London based Adjaye Associates, commissioned to do the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington D.C., will work with Sydney company BVN.

Acclaimed Adelaide designer Khai Liew will join with the Tokyo’s Office of Ryue Nishizawa and Sydney firm Durbach Block Jaggers.

London’s David Chipperfield, known for the Museo Jumex in Mexico City, teamed with Sydney’s SJB Architects.

US firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, which designed The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles, will bid with Adelaide’s Woods Bagot, the company behind the distinctive SAHMRI building.

Hassell, which began in Adelaide and is now based in Melbourne, has invited New York firm SO-IL to join its bid.

The six finalist teams each receive $90,000 to create their designs for the gallery, which is proposed for the former RAH site on North Terrace.

“It’s a site that’s hungry for transformation and wants to be connected to a city. All of those things make architects very excited,’’ said Art Gallery of SA director Nick Mitzevich.

“Where in Australia — or the world — could you get a two-hectare site next to a Botanic Garden?”

The six teams’ designs will be revealed to the public as part of an exhibition in April., with the winner to be chosen by a jury and expected to be announced in June.

From: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... f96e271e27

[Nathan]

It's an impressive shortlist, with some big names in the mix. Surprised Snøhetta didn't get shortlisted though (assuming they submitted) considering their experience with cultural buildings and they have an office in Adelaide. Looking forward to see the concepts in April.