Darwin's Chan Building to be Transformed

Jeremy Eccles | 01.12.15

Author: Jeremy Eccles
News source: Press Release

One of the most exciting architectural projects in the Northern Territory will be led by local firm DKJ projects.architects in partnership with the nationally acclaimed Fender Katsalidis Mirams Architects.

The re-purposing of Darwin’s Chan Building into a modern, dedicated visual art gallery was announced in the 2015 NT Budget earlier this year. And the $18.3 million project using a mix of private and public funds will transform the Chan with stunning proposed designs for the building.

“The Territory Government is extremely excited about the redevelopment of the Chan Building,” Chief Minister Adam Giles said. “I’m delighted leading designers DKJ projects.architects and Fender Katsalidis Mirams Architects have understood the vision for the project and produced some exceptional designs for it.This project will invigorate the CBD of Darwin and create a drawcard for locals and visitors alike.”

Arts and Museums Minister Gary Higgins said the project will deliver “a new cultural institution to further promote Northern Territory culture, especially our Indigenous art and culture, and to support cultural exchange with Asia. It will be a venue Territorians can be proud of and will expand the horizons of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory substantially.”

MAGNT chair, Allan Myers AO QC – who's determination to extend MAGNT into town from its suburban sea-side setting was instrumental in getting this project off the ground - said the project is an “..inspired initiative. The benefits for the people of the Northern Territory of having a great art museum in the civic centre of Darwin will be immense, both culturally and economically. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is proud to have the opportunity to display and interpret a far greater quantity of beautiful and significant art.”

It is not yet known whether all the art in MAGNT – including its significant collection of early Papunya boards and the annual Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (the Telstras) – will move into the Chan, leaving only museum matters in the current building.

The Sydney-based Fender Katsalidis Mirams Architects’ design expertise extends to a broad range of sectors including urban design/master planning, residential, institutional and commercial. They are one of Australian’s leading design firms and bring cutting edge design skills and broad experience of Gallery and Cultural projects. These include the prize-winning private Aboriginal art museum, the Garangula Gallery at Harden – between Young and Cootamundra, Bendigo Art Gallery, a new waterside art centre for Hobart, the Ian Potter Museum at Melbourne Uni and a strange new viewing platform for Circular Quay.

DKJ projects.architecture is a Darwin based multi award winning design firm with experience in cultural projects such as the Charles Darwin University Centre for Indigenous Knowledge, Nhulunbuy Airport and a mix of hotels and apartment blocks. The practice brings to the project expert technical and documentation skills based on 40 years of design for the Northern Territory environment and construction industry.

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Contact Details

Gallery: Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Contact: Marcus Schutenko
Email: info@magnt.net.au
Telephone: +61 8 8999 8264
Address: 19 Conacher Street Fanny Bay 0820 NT

 

 

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