Architecture

Solar-powered art gallery incorporates WWII-era naval bunker

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The Art Gallery of New South Wales' Sydney Modern extension cost AUD 344 million (roughly US$230 million) to build and is now open to the public
Iwan Baan
The Art Gallery of New South Wales' Sydney Modern extension cost AUD 344 million (roughly US$230 million) to build and is now open to the public
Iwan Baan
Sydney Modern is located on a prominent spot near the Sydney Opera House, as well as the Quay Quarter Tower – the World Architecture Festival's 2022 World Building of the Year – which is the blocky building in the background
Iwan Baan
Sydney Modern features multiple terrace areas for visitors to walk onto and enjoy excellent views of the local area
Iwan Baan
Sydney Modern's interior includes multiple exhibition spaces and visitor areas
Iwan Baan
Sydney Modern includes a World War II-era fuel bunker, which is a decommissioned naval bunker and serves as an exhibition space measuring 2,200 sq m (23,680 sq ft)
Jenni Carter
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The Art Gallery of New South Wales has received an ambitious new extension, courtesy of Pritzker Prize-winning architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA. The project features significant sustainable design and incorporates a World War II-era fuel bunker as a unique exhibition space.

The extension, named Sydney Modern, is a standalone building that almost doubles the available exhibition space of the existing 151-year-old art gallery. It's located on a prominent spot near the Sydney Opera House and 3XN's award-winning Quay Quarter Tower.

The building is arranged into a stepped overall form, creating a series of accessible terraces, and is centered around a large welcome plaza and new exhibition spaces, with art research and education areas. The decommissioned WW II fuel bunker, meanwhile, once held oil for Australia's navy and provides a 2,200-sq-m (23,680-sq-ft) exhibition space, with a large column-free gallery for contemporary art.

Sydney Modern includes a World War II-era fuel bunker, which is a decommissioned naval bunker and serves as an exhibition space measuring 2,200 sq m (23,680 sq ft)
Jenni Carter

"Our vision has been to transform the Art Gallery into an art museum campus with seamless connections between art, architecture and landscape," said Art Gallery of New South Wales director Michael Brand. "I am incredibly proud to now be welcoming visitors to our expansion, which has such a strong sense of place and such an innovative display of art. With the support of the NSW Government, our donors, staff, artists and a wide community of supporters, our vision is now a reality. This is especially significant given the challenges we faced during the past three years of construction with the impact of climate bushfires, the global pandemic and the record-breaking rainfall."

Impressively, 100% of the building's energy needs are met by renewable energy, including a roof-based solar panel array. A rainwater capture system provides water for irrigation and cooling and around 8,000 sq m (roughly 86,000 sq ft) of rooftop greenery is installed. Landscaping duties were handled by McGregor Coxall and Kathryn Gustafson, who added over 50,000 plants.

Sydney Modern's interior includes multiple exhibition spaces and visitor areas
Iwan Baan

The total cost for the Sydney Modern came in at AUD 344 million (roughly US$230 million). It recently opened to the public and hosts a range of international and Australian artworks, including a large collection of aboriginal art.

Sources: Art Gallery of New South Wales, SANAA

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1 comment
ljaques
One in eight people in Australia live in poverty, with 900k of those living in NSW. Does $344,000,000 AUD seem like a sane amount to spend on an art building? Not to me.