Winning design for NGA Sculpture Garden unveiled

The National Gallery of Australia in Kamberri/Canberra have announced the winner of their National Sculpture Garden Design Competition, which was launched back in April. Based in New South Wales, the winning team comprises CO-AP, JEF, TARN and Plus Minus Design, under the name CO-AP Holdings.

National Gallery director Dr Nick Mitzevich said the collective won the international competition with a thoughtful approach that showed a sensitivity and respect for the garden's history and heritage. Their plan for renewing, reconnecting and revitalising existing gardens and infrastructure more than doubles the space for public art, creating opportunities for new experiences and a permanent building.

According to Mitzevich, "the jury were struck by the devotion and care CO-AP Holdings had for the National Sculpture Garden. CO-AP Holdings understood the significance and gravitas of the existing garden and its legacy, but also the importance of bringing the garden into the 21st century."

CO-AP Holdings' proposal replaces the existing Sculpture Garden marquee with a permanent stainless steel and glass pavilion, and introduces a new promenade and multi-campus square at the National Gallery forecourt. The existing summer, winter and spring gardens that surround these elements will be reworked into seven distinct gardens linked in a continuous circuit with enhanced accessibility and lighting. Comprising eucalypt forests, a fern gully, casuarina groves and grassy woodlands, these gardens are intended to capture Australia's rich and biodiverse landscapes.

Will Fung, director of CO-AP and member of the winning team reflected, "We decided to enter the competition because we shared a deep love for the Sculpture Garden originally designed by Harry Howard, Barbara Buchanan and Roger Vidler. It is the most important modernist landscape in Australia and provides a beautiful counterpoint to Colin Madigan's magnificent gallery building. We feel that this is a sustainable and respectful design decision. We are very much looking forward to exploring, developing and implementing our ideas for the National Sculpture Garden with the National Gallery of Australia."

The winning consortium was selected from a shortlist of five teams from Victoria and New South Wales by a jury of distinguished experts. Chaired by architect and chair of the Heritage Council of Victoria Professor Philip Goad, the jury comprised National Gallery director Dr Nick Mitzevich, Barkandji artist and curator Nici Cumpston, and renowned Chilean landscape architect Teresa Moller.

First Nations consultant Bradley Mapiva Brown (Bagariin Ngunnawal Cultural Consulting), artist Leila Jeffreys, structural engineer PMI Engineers, lighting designer Arup, wayfinding consultant Studio Ongarato, heritage consultant CAB Consulting, art consultant Felicity Fenner and quantity surveyor Heymann Consulting also contributed to the successful proposal.

The National Gallery will begin working with CO-AP Holdings and key stakeholders to develop the design next year. Mitzevich commented, "We are very much at the beginning of the journey and we look forward to working with the team to develop a final design and future vision for the Garden."