An inhabitable steel bridge
Bundanon Art Museum by Kerstin Thompson Architects
© Rory Gardiner
This newly built complex by the Shoalhaven River, which is located south of Sydney, connects an art museum and a guest house in two very different structures: in future, a partly subterranean concrete building will house the collection of Australian painter Arthur Boyd (1920-99).
© Rory Gardiner
In 1993, Boyd made over the 1100-ha property and his artistic oeuvre to the Australian people. Both of these are now administered by a foundation. A steel bridge measuring 160 m in length and 9 m in width attaches to the north side of the museum; it has been fitted with 32 guest rooms and a café.
In their design, Kerstin Thompson and her studio were in the company of well-known neighbours. Shortly before the start of the new millennium, Pritzker Prize winner Glenn Murcutt and his partner Wendy Lewin built the Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre on the sloping lot above the riverbank.
© Rory Gardiner
The two new buildings expand the existing complex to the north; the guest house bridges a small coombe. Its delicate supporting structure with the narrow spans was inspired by the historical trestle bridges that were often built to serve the Australian and American railway systems. Dark-painted steel, dark wooden cladding, a complex facade construction and a trapezoidal sheet roof that is visible both inside and out characterize the architecture of this part of the project.
© Rory Gardiner
© Rory Gardiner
In contrast, the museum features exposed-concrete facades and a roof construction of concrete rib elements. Apart from the art storage facility, it encompasses two exhibition halls – one with skylights and one with a large window that opens onto the forecourt. Like the architecture, the climate concept developed by the architects in collaboration with the sustainability experts from Atelier Ten differs dramatically in the individual areas of the complex.
© Rory Gardiner
The storage spaces need the most constant climate conditions; in the exhibition halls they can fluctuate a bit more. To a great extent the entrance hall, administration offices and bridge structure are naturally aired. The guest rooms are equipped only with fans and a great number of passive elements to regulate the climate. These include facade-integrated ventilation openings with adjustable wooden slats, sliding window shutters of perforated metal sheeting and a flap over the door to each room that will support cross-ventilation. With a 100-kW photovoltaic system on the roof and cooling aided by a geothermal bore grid consisting of 27 probes 100 m deep, the ensemble of museum and guest house will achieve zero-energy standard.
Architecture: Kerstin Thompson Architects
Client: Bundanon Trust
Location: 170 Riversdale Road, Illaroo NSW 2540 (AU)
Structural engineering: Irwin Consult, WSP
Landscape architecture: Wraight Associates, Craig Burton
Energy and climate concept: Atelier Ten
Gallery
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