Australia's Hassell and Dutch-fim Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) have revealed the design for the New Museum for Western Australia.
To be located in the heart of Perth’s cultural precinct, the museum has been conceived as a collection of physical and virtual ‘stories’, providing a multidimensional framework for visitors to engage with the Western Australian people and places.
Hassell Principal and Board Director Mark Loughnan, and OMA Managing Partner-Architect David Gianotten said:
''Our vision for the design was to create spaces that promote engagement and collaboration, responding to the needs of the Museum and the community. We want it to create a civic place for everyone, an interesting mix of heritage and contemporary architecture that helps revitalise the Perth Cultural Centre while celebrating the culture of Western Australia on the world stage. The design is based on the intersection of a horizontal and vertical loop creating large possibilities of curatorial strategies for both temporary and fixed exhibitions.''
A public space is the central point of the New Museum with the outdoor room framed by refurbished heritage buildings and intersected by new buildings and virtual platforms, enabling the diverse stories of Western Australia to be told.
A large new temporary gallery space will complement the extensive permanent collection of the museum. A diverse range of cultural, retail and dining experiences will also be offered at the Museum to increase footfalls, especially after hours.
The New Museum is due to be completed in 2020.
