Click here to download the full citation (PDF, 248Kb)
In 1972 a competition was held for the design of the High Court. This was the first open design competition held in Canberra since the international competition for the plan of Canberra in 1912. The competition was won by Edwards Madigan Torzillo & Briggs. Christopher Kringas was head of the design team with documentation substantially completed at the time of his untimely death in 1975. After the death of Kringas, Hans Marelli, architect with EMTB, lead the construction administration of the project.
Kringas and Madigan's design style and use of extensive concrete was tested in the Warringah Shire Civic Centre and Administrative Offices at Dee Why, NSW, completed in 1973. As the designs of the High Court and National Gallery were vested in the same firm the opportunity for a consonance between them was high (Taylor 1990). The entry levels were determined by the proposed National Place of the 1971 plan.
The National Gallery concept was for a complicated building, located in the eastern corner of the Parliamentary Triangle, consisting of varied levels and spaces arranged on four major levels having a structural spatial order based on equilateral triangles. The requirements of the brief and the conceptual ideas were articulated in an open display of structure and structural materials.
The points of entry are also interesting in that the High Court entry is on a central axis while the National Gallery has its entry on the corner.
The High Court was designed to be read clearly from across the lake while the National Gallery is partially obscured by the native planting.
The other aspect of the precinct is the landscaping. The firm Harry Howard and Associates was commissioned to undertake the land design with the principal design firm, Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs (EMTB). The design team for the landscaping consisted of the principal designers Colin Madigan (EMTB) and Harry Howard, along with Barbara Buchanan (Harry Howard and Associates), Roger Vidler (EMTB) and James Mollison (Gallery Director). The water feature of the Marsh Pond was designed by Robert Woodward. Harry Howard had worked with EMTB as an architect and understood the language of their architecture, yet was inspired by the Australian bush and the need to humanise and localise the landscape experience for visitors (Buchanan 2001). The design consisted of Summer, Winter, Spring and Autumn gardens blending into each other. Due to a lack of funds, the Autumn Garden, restaurant, kiosk and amphitheatre were not completed.
Fluctuations in the political and economic climate delayed the beginning of the construction of the Gallery until 1973. The Gallery was 'moth-balled' for 18 months to finance the continuation of the High Court. The High Court was completed in 1980 and the National Gallery in 1982.
In 1975 the NCDC abandoned the 1971 Roger Johnson plan for the 'National Place'. This left the precinct 5 metres above the natural ground level and without the connection to a 'national place', Parliament or the National Library. In 1978 the change of plan by the NCDC from a one-way to a two-way road system along with the construction of a surface carpark to the south, meant that most visitors approached the Gallery from the rear of the building (comments by Madigan, AHC Workshop 2001).
In the early 1990s, under the direction of the Gallery Director, Betty Churcher, subdivision of some galleries was undertaken with the insertion of mezzanine floors and changing or re-cladding wall surfaces, in order to create new galleries to suit the exhibitions. Other changes to the building included re-roofing with a metal deck and the office space under the new roof, and extension of the bookshop. A temporary restaurant appropriated the Marsh Pond terrace and, at a later date, an access road and small car-park to service the temporary restaurant were installed.
A new wing, designed by Andrew Andersens, was constructed in 1997 of concrete panels with some use of granite cladding. It is used for temporary exhibitions. The new extension included a courtyard garden sculpture designed and established by the artist Fiona Hall.
A sculpture of a globe by Neil Dawson, hanging over the forecourt area, was destroyed during a storm in late 1998. In September 2002 another sphere called “Diamonds”was installed by the same New Zealand artist, Neil Dawson.
The Canberra Medallion was awarded to the High Court in 1980 and the Australian National Gallery in 1982, by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. The buildings were further recognised by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in 2001 in their listing of the two buildings for national significance.
Click here to download the full citation (PDF, 248Kb)
|
