Award for interior architecture

JURY CITATION

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV at Federation Square is a major Australian cultural asset and is the primary cultural anchor point for Federation Square. The collection contains some of the most important examples of Australian art, including paintings, drawings, prints, photography, fashion and textiles, together with a stunning collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works.

The interior design is a major achievement in international gallery design and has been holistic in both conception and execution. It seamlessly integrates with the biology of Federation Square, drawing visitors through an ingenious threading of galleries, links, breakout spaces, interstitial spaces and reference points.

There is a sense of unfolding interest and comprehensive resolution in the spatial design, the servicing provisions and the details and colour schemes, which extends traditional art presentation into a richer and more sophisticated context. Despite the strong experiential nature of the interior, there is subtle enhancement rather than “competition” between the interior design and the works on display.

The architects have demonstrated their capacity to engage with the gallery at every level, from primary construction through to wall, plinth, cabinet and display ideas, including the hanging and lighting of works during the initial exhibitions. An excellent relationship between gallery management, design and architecture has resulted, making the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Federation Square one of the most accomplished interiors in Australia.