Unveiled to the public at the Museum’s recent twentieth anniversary celebrations, the design for the extension of Bendigo’s Golden Dragon Museum mixes modern flair and authentic links to Chinese cultural philosophy.
The new concept design includes three levels of new space for the museum, touring exhibitions, a restaurant, gift shop, function space and internal courtyard gardens. With its glowing metallic skin and lightly ornamented appearance, it appears more akin to some of today’s contemporary architectural forms – free of meaning or grounding to its place.
Harry Charalambous, principal at Woods Bagot, has been associated with the museum for over twenty years. He has lead the design of the museum’s masterplan – a new Chinese precinct which included the Chinese gardens during the early nineties.
Bendigo was a historic settlement area for the Chinese. Opened in 1991, the museum houses a vast collection of Chinese artefacts including the Sun Loong – the longest Imperial dragon in the world. The new design reflects the continuation of the museum as a hub for Chinese cultural activity and allows the museum to house further Chinese exhibits in the future, enabling the museum to be recognised and participate on an international scale.
