NGV Contemporary one step closer

By Kaylah-Joelle Baker

After an extensive selection process, the final four major architecture and design teams have been shortlisted to design the new NGV Contemporary gallery on Southbank Boulevard.

John Wardle Architects, Field, Angelo Candalepas and Associates, and Open Weave are the final four Australian teams selected as part of the government’s NGV Contemporary Design Competition for their “innovative design, consideration of sustainability and connection to place”.

The four multidisciplinary teams will continue to the final stage of the competition to design the largest museum of contemporary art and design in Australia, creating 10,000 sqm of large-scale and flexible gallery spaces that will enable NGV to present works of a scale not currently possible in its existing sites.

With the competition open to Australian architecture teams, NGV director Tony Ellwood said the competition offered an unparalleled platform to showcase the country’s local design and architecture sector.

“NGV Contemporary will be central to Australia’s cultural identity and a place that all Victorians will be proud to call their own,” Mr Ellwood said.

“This design competition offers an extraordinary opportunity to support our country’s local design and architecture sector.”

Upon final selection, the final four teams are required to further develop their design concepts, moving the project one step closer to construction.

The successful team will be announced early next year.

The Southbank project is part of the Victorian Government’s $1.46 billion 2020-21 budget investment into transforming Melbourne’s Art Precinct.

The NGV Contemporary project conceived in 2018 following the state government’s purchase of the old Carlton and United Breweries’ building for $95.5 million.

Deemed “Australia’s largest ever cultural infrastructure project”, Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson said the project would aid in Melbourne’s recovery.

“As we recover from this pandemic, it makes sense that we play to our strengths. And our creative industries are the heart and soul of Victoria – and a major driver of our economy and jobs,” he said.

Estimated to create 5000 construction jobs and support more than 200 new long-term jobs in Victoria’s creative industry, the project will provide a much-needed boost to Victoria’s cultural tourism industry, which was worth an annual $2.5 billion pre-pandemic.

Located at 77 Southbank Boulevard, NGV Contemporary will be dedicated to showcasing local, national and international contemporary art, design, fashion and architecture.