NGV Contemporary centrepiece of $1.7B redevelopment of Southbank
The preliminary design of the new National Gallery of Victoria Contemporary building, the centrepiece of a $1.7 billion revamp of the Southbank arts and culture precinct, was unveiled on Tuesday.
Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson described the gallery as Melbourne’s Eiffel Tower, predicting it would attract one million visitors from interstate and overseas annually once it opens to the public in 2028.
“This is going to be an absolute game-changer, and it’s going to put us on the global stage as being a destination for the finest art in the world,” Mr Pearson said.
“This is going to be an absolute boon for our state, it’s going to be a magnet for tourists and showcase our credentials as the nation’s creative state.”
The gallery has been designed by architecture firm Angelo Candalepas and Associates and will feature arched entries, education spaces, science laboratories for art conservation, and a rooftop terrace with CBD views.
It will be nestled in public gardens larger than the playing surface of the MCG, with retail and hospitality offerings, performance spaces and public art.