Areal photograph of AGNSW and proposed Sydney Modern Site (detail); Courtesy AGNSW
In an announcement today by the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), Five Australian and international architectural firms have been selected for Stage 2 of the design competition for the Sydney Modern Project.
The shortlisted architects in this stage of the competition are:
- Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA Tokyo
- Kengo Kuma & Associates Tokyo and Paris
- Kerry Hill Architects Singapore and Perth
- RMA Architects (Rahul Mehrotra Architects) Mumbai and Boston
- Sean Godsell Architects Melbourne
Gallery Director Dr. Michael Brand said: ‘Each of the five selected practices demonstrated insight and sensitivity to place and a diversity of approach to creating built forms. I am confident the winner will create something quite extraordinary for Sydney.’
The AGNSW is one step closer to realising its ambitious $400 million expansion project, which would ideally be completed by the gallery’s 150th anniversary in 2021.
The gallery is looking for an ‘inspirational’ design that will be a flagship cultural institution in Sydney, but one also recognised nationally and internationally. The addition will double the size of the AGNSW’s existing facility and permanent exhibition spaces.
Brand added that the panel of seven jurors was excited by the quality of design received. The five architect announced today were selected from a Stage 1 shortlist of 12 architectural practices announced October 2014.
‘These high-level concepts explored a variety of possibilities for our site and its connection to the city, the harbour and the adjacent landscape including options for visitors to experience art both indoors and outdoors,’ Dr Brand said.
Mr Guido Belgiorno-Nettis AM, President of the Gallery’s Board of Trustees, said ‘The Sydney Modern Project will provide a facility that competes globally for audiences and adds to the uniqueness of our beautiful city in both form and function.’
‘The Sydney Modern Project will link the existing gallery with a new building featuring dynamic spaces for major exhibitions and collection displays, a multipurpose theatre, learning and interactive spaces and expanded restaurant, cafe and event spaces. Importantly, it will also deliver badly needed operational improvements,’ added Belgiorno-Nettis.
The final submissions will be judged in April 2015.
The Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) has endorsed the competition process, which at each stage, has been assessed anonymously by the jury and under a process overseen by an independent probity auditor.
The Australian and international design competition is being funded through a $10.8 million contribution from the NSW Government, provided as part of the 2014-15 State Budget.
Sydney Modern Jury members are:
- Dr Michael Brand (Chair) Director, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
- Ms Kathryn Gustafson Internationally recognised landscape architect with over 30 years of distinguished practice with landscape architects Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (Seattle) and Gustafson Porter (London)
- Mr Michael Lynch CBE AM CEO West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Hong Kong
- Professor Toshiko Mori Robert P Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
- Professor Glenn Murcutt AO Internationally acclaimed Australian architect and recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2002, Sydney
- Professor Juhani Pallasmaa Architect, professor emeritus and widely published writer, Helsinki
- Ms Hetti Perkins Member of the Eastern Arrernte and Kalkadoon Aboriginal communities and internationally acclaimed curator, filmmaker and author, Sydney
