studio fuksas awarded australia forum project in canberra

studio fuksas awarded australia forum project in canberra
images courtesy of studio fuksas

italian practice studio fuksas has been chosen to develop the preliminary design of ‘australia forum’, a new and expanded convention center in canberra. the project, which will see fuksas collaborating with local firm guida moseley brown architects, is located at one apex of the national triangle that connects the site with the adjacent parliament house and the ministry of defence.

the proposal features a completely transparent and permeable skin

the proposal features a completely transparent and permeable skin, and seeks to mediate between the surrounding urban fabric and the region’s natural landscape, including the nearby lake burley griffin. the complex has been conceived to offer a great deal of flexibility, containing a 3,000-seat plenary hall, a large exhibition area, various offices, retail outlets and an independent center for dialogue.

the building could be completed within five years

as the project intends to stimulate both local and national economies, the australian government is investigating a range of procurement models including public-private partnership and financing, with a view to the building being completed by 2020.

project info:

name: australia forum
location: canberra, australia
timeline: won competition – november, 2014; scheduled completion – 2020
area: 27,000 sqm / 290,626 sqf
client: the land development agency on behalf of the ACT (government economic development)
architects: studio fuksas / massimiliano and doriana fuksas (rome, paris, shenzhen) + guida moseley brown architects (canberra)