first images unveiled of melbourne's forthcoming NGV contemporary gallery

winning design unveiled for ngv contemporary

multidisciplinary practice angelo candalepas and associates has won the design competition for the NGV contemporary, australia’s largest gallery dedicated to contemporary art and design. the new 30,000 sqm landmark incorporates dramatic arched entries, a 40-meters-high spherical hall, and more than 13,000 sqm of display space, including exhibition galleries, an expansive rooftop terrace, and a sculpture garden with stunning vistas of melbourne. the first renders of the forthcoming building were shared by the victorian government and the national gallery of victoria for the first time, on march 15, 2022.

all images by darcstudio, courtesy of national gallery of victoria

the ‘omphalos’ centerpiece

the design by angelo candalepas and associates (find more here) is focused around a central spherical hall called ‘omphalos’ (the ancient greek word for the centre of the earth). this space develops upwards, spanning more than 40 meters and connecting all levels of the building to a lantern in the sky. monumental in scale, the orientating hall will serve as an enveloping gallery for the display of large-scale artworks, and will also allow visitors to move through the building via a spiraling pathway.

the project incorporates various architectural spaces that will complement the exhibition galleries, including a large café directly connected to the expanded public parkland and a new design store. taking advantage of the building’s unique location, the scheme integrates a public rooftop terrace and sculpture garden accessible from a rooftop, restaurant and members’ lounge. the terrace offers generous unobstructed views over the surrounding public gardens and melbourne’s skyline.

a purpose-built 21st-century gallery

befitting a purpose-built, 21st-century gallery, the proposed structure features large, flexible exhibition spaces with state-of-the-art display systems. in this way, the NGV will be able to present international blockbuster exhibitions while simultaneously offering a dynamic program of thematic and focused presentations drawn from its permanent collection of australian and international contemporary art and design. adding to the all-encompassing cultural experience it offers, the gallery also includes educational spaces, studios, and laboratories for the conservation of artwork. 

NGV contemporary will unify the surrounding melbourne arts precinct by connecting together the wider neighborhood and reshaping the urban experience of this important part of the city. in providing a unique architectural landmark for this complex triangular-shaped site, the winning design provides a generous and highly accessible building, with large arched public entries from the new public parkland, southbank boulevard and the corner of kavanagh street. the building’s eastern façade incorporates a multi-level veranda, offering an external pathway between the building levels, as well as expansive views over melbourne.

‘melbourne is the cultural capital of this nation and NGV contemporary marks its next great offering to the world. art and design matters to all australians: it speaks to who we are as a community. this project signals australia as a great contemporary nation with a significant creative force. this building will be a beacon of the culture of our time.’ shares lead architect angelo candalepas.

‘I hope NGV contemporary will personally and emotionally resonate with all members of our rich and diverse community and deepen their understanding of the possibilities of human creativity,’ he adds.