Initial scheme

I really struggled with settling on a layout for this project, I found designing in 3D (using Sketch up) made the process a lot easier.

Starting with the idea of having separate precincts along the length of the site, I organised the main galleries in a larger building near the front, which would serve for large scale works and installations. The spaces I wanted to provide for in this building include: a room which could be entirely shut off for video installations, office, and a double height exhibition space which could also be viewed from a mezzanine level.

Initial hand drawn plans, sketching out layout of rooms, which I translated onto sketch-up:

Above: ground floor plan

Above: first floor plan

I created a "long gallery" for the middle section of the site, which is long and narrower, providing a walkway along one side. This gallery would serve for paintings and smaller exhibitions of photography and prints. I really wanted to emulate the sense of framing and perspective I admire in the Art Gallery of NSW. The length was an advantage, and I created a series of split level rooms to mirror the mezzanine level of the main Gallery, accessible through short flights of stairs placed at the end of every room. The door breaks creates nice vertical lines when looking down the long gallery. This also created a circular circulation system, serving to aid my goal of a winding path to slow patrons down in their journey through the space.

The lounge space is on the first floor, accessed through one of the half level gallery spaces. A bridge connects this room to the apartment, which is located towards the back of the site, above the workshop. The delineation of spaces create a hierarchy - public spaces at the front, then service spaces, and then private spaces. The buildings are separated by two courtyards, one more enclosed one towards the front, which also allows light to penetrate to the main gallery, and another more open one towards the back, which links to the open parking space next door.