Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney Modern
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5 Heritage Summary The Art Gallery of New South Wales has developed a building with unique heritage values. Many of the difficulties the Gallery currently faces are a legacy of staged, incremental development. In most instances each phase has been initiated in order to accommodate the expanding needs of the Gallery’s audiences. The existing heritage fabric of the Gallery limits direct access for people with a disability and families with prams, and maintains a singular small and closed, yet attractive, facade to the entrance. ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES MASTERPLAN FRAMEWORK 44 5 Heritage JOHNSON PILTON WALKER 45 5 Heritage History Brief history of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Major Milestones The Art Gallery of New South Wales traces its origins to a public meeting on April 24, 1871, which established an “Academy of Art” for ‘the purpose of promoting the fine arts through lecture, art classed and regular exhibitions.’ The physical realisation of this ambition however, first begins with the assembly of a collection in the Art Walter Liberty Vernon’s design Vernon’s completed galleries and vestibule The Asian Wing Annex at the International Exhibition of 1879. Since 1885, the collection has been housed and displayed at its current location in the Domain, adjacent to the eastern entrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Over its life-time there have been a number of radical changes in the form and development of the Gallery with each stage being over seen by eminent architects of their respective eras. Since its inception the Gallery has been know under an John Hornbury Hunt’s vision for the Gallery Hunt’s Annex interior North elevation of Cook wing Bicentennial sculpture court number of names. The ‘Fine Art Annex’ which served as a part of the International Exhibition was opened 1788 1871 1875 1879 1885 1892 1905 1896-1909 1929 1937 1945 1969-1970 1971 1978 1980 1988 2003 2 011 as ‘The Art Gallery of New South Wales’ in 1880. This was changed to ‘The National Art Gallery of New South Wales’ in 1883. It was not until the establishment of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Act 1958, that the name reverted to the 1880 version. Today, various display galleries have been named in honour of major benefactors. These include: > Rudy Komon Gallery, Upper Level; > The James Agapitos Analysis Room, Conservation Studio – Microscope Room, Upper Level; > Dorothy Street Twentieth Century Australian Galleries, Ground Floor; the Eoranation arecustodians ofthe Cadigalpeople of The the Gallery sited is currently land on which Cove is established British colony in Sydney Art’ of Meeting establishes an ‘Academy Assembly collection is first housed at Clarke’s Gallery’s The Hall in Elizabeth Street Sydney’s is built for Annex’ Arts A timber ‘Fine International Exhibition. Art Gallery South National of New collection of ‘The The Hornbury John to a building designed by is moved Wales’ Hunt at the present site in Domain first Director is appointed the Gallery’s Montiefore Eliezer Mann is appointed ‘Director and Victor Fyers Gother Secretary’ designs and Vernon Liberty Walter Architect Government to the builds the courts and galleries as an extension until 1969 remains essentially unchanged and which annex MacDonald is appointed Director and Stuart James Secretary is appointed Director and SecretaryAshton William John Hal Missingham is appointed Director and Secretary Architects Wing Government (by Captain The Cook Andersons) is built and opened Andrew Department and to the public is appointed Director Phillip Laverty Peter Edmund Capon is appointed Director is passed 1980 Act Wales Art Gallery South of New Andersons of PTW) Andrew (by Bicentennial extension The of the Galleryare completed - this doubles the size and Johnson Richard (by galleries extension Asian The JPW) are completed Kaldor the John contemporary new The galleries featuring GalleryFamily PTW) are completed (by > The Nelson Meers Foundation Sidney Nolan Room, Ground Floor; > The Lowy Gonski Gallery, Ground Floor; > The James Fairfax Galleries, Ground Floor; > The John Schaeffar Galleries, Ground Floor; John Hornbury Hunt, Architect Walter Liberty Vernon, Architect Portrait of Sir William Ashton, Director Hal Missingham, Director Edmund Capon, Director > The Margaret Olley Function Space, Ground Floor; Photo: Freeman Brothers (1899) Unknown photographer Unknown photographer (1940s) Photo: Max Dupain OBE (1947) 1978 to present From original glass plate www.wikipedia Gelatin silver photograph; 15.4 x 8.9 cm Gelatin silver photograph Photo: The Australian (2007) > The Margaret Olley Twentieth Century European Mitchell Library, SLNSW Pictures Collection nla.pic-an11852731 NPG Collection: 2003.69 www.theaustralian.news.com.au Galleries, Lower Level 2; > Franco & Amina Belgiorno-Nettis & Family Contemporary Galleries, Lower Level 2; and the Major Benefactors > John Kaldor Family Collection Gallery, Lower Level 2. James Fairfax Margaret Olley John Schaeffer The Belgiorno-Nettis Family Dorothy and Fred Street David Gonski and Frank Lowy John Kaldor Image: AGNSW Image: AGNSW Image: AGNSW Image: AGNSW Image: AGNSW Image: AGNSW Image: AGNSW ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES MASTERPLAN FRAMEWORK 46 5 Heritage Significance & otentialP Introduction The building and site of the Gallery have significant heritage opportunities. Many of these are recognised by heritage listings and some are maintained by virtue of their inclusion in the AGNSW Conservation Management Plan (CMP), completed in 2008. Heritage Significance - Current Listings The Gallery is currently listed on the following registers due its deemed heritage significance: Register of the National Estate > Listed on 21 March 1978 with place ID 2349; NSW State Heritage Register > The building is listed (Local Government listing, Lower Level 3 Lower Level 2 Lower Level 1 Ground Level Upper Level Roof Level Database number 2423945); > The site is listed as an Archaeological item (Local Government listing, Database number 2424840); City of Sydney Council Fabric of Heritage Significance > Listed in Sydney City Heritage Study (2002), Item 3012; National Trust Register Fabric of High Heritage Significance > Listed as Classified; RAIA, NSW Register of Significant Buildings > Listed for Walter Liberty Vernon works 1897-1909; > Listed for NSW Government Architect Work 1972 and 1988. Conservation Management Plan, 2008 3D Volumes - Heritage Significance - View from SouthWest 3D Volumes - Heritage Significance - View from Northeast Not to scale @ A3 Not to scale @ A3 While the CMP has been activated primarily to assist the management of exhibitions while conserving the significant fabric of the building, it is also serves to facilitate the growth of the Gallery. The CMP acknowledges that the Gallery will have to expand in line with increasing audience and collection demands. Note: The constraints and opportunities in line with heritage listings identified above are outlined in CMP Section 6, while the conservation policies are dealt with in Section 7. JOHNSON PILTON WALKER 47 5 Heritage Evolution Evolution of the AGNSW Site PHASE 1 The Art Gallery of New South Wales has occupied its site in the outer domain since 1885. Over this period, the Gallery has grown through the six significant phases (each with their own staging). There has also been significant modifications to its surrounds during this period. The building is the major service delivery asset owned by the Gallery and it contains a number of built elements and architectural stages unified into a single purpose built structure: 1885 - Phase 1 1 Subterranean remnants of John Horbury Hunt circa The National Art Gallery of New South Wales, consisting 1885 - foundations/footing for original National Art of six galleries, is built on a site Gallery building on the site; in the ‘Outer Domain’ to John Hornbury Hunt’s plans. 2 1896 Art Gallery designed by the NSW government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon and subsequent An ancillary structure is located additions in the classical revival style; to the east. 3 1972 Captain Cook wing designed by the NSW government Architect’s office, Andrew Andersons’ chief designer, in a style described as late 20th century international; PHASE 2 4 1988 Bicentennial additions designed by the NSW government Architect, Andrew Andersons in the late 20th century international style; 5 2003 Asian galleries extension and associated works designed by Richard Johnson of Johnson Pilton Walker adding a white glass and steel pavilion that has been likened, when lit a night, to a softly glowing paper lantern; and 6 2011 Contemporary art galleries designed by PTW to house the John Kaldor Family collection. 1897 - Beginning of Phase 2 1899 - Phase 2 1901 - Phase 2 1904 - Phase 2 1905-1906 - Phase 2 1909 - End of Phase 2 The stages of growth are shown in the diagrams to the Courts 7 & 8 are added to Vernon’s Courts 9 & 10 are The south elevation of the The vestibule and portico are Central Court floor and roof is The north-western courts 5 right, and are grouped into the 6 principal phases of the Hornbury Hunt galleries completed. Gallery is completed with completed in the anticipation raised to meet the level of the & 6 and the board room are as the first phase of plans by galleries 11, 12 & 13 adjacent that they are to be established Vernon galleries. completed. development. Government Architect Walter to the completed courts. as the main entrance to the Many of the difficulties the Gallery is currently Liberty Vernon. Gallery. The new entrance and entry All elements of Vernon’s court