Disputed Plans Get Funds, Design Tick
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday May 25, 2001
Controversial plans to redevelop the National Gallery of Australia not only secured funding in Tuesday's Federal Budget, they also passed the first stage of design approval this week, indicating that pending consultations with the original architect may prove too little, too late.
The National Capital Authority, which oversees planning in the prime real estate of Canberra's parliamentary triangle, has ticked off plans for the new multi-storey glass entry to the NGA.
The plans will now go before a Federal parliamentary committee.
The aim is to get the Joint Standing Committee's approval before politicians leave for a long break at the end of June, so that construction will be on-track for completion by October next year, the 20th anniversary of the NGA's official opening.
The gallery director, Brian Kennedy, told the Herald he was liaising with Col Madigan, the architect of the building opened in 1982, and the Royal Institute of Australian Architects, who have voiced objections to the new designs.
As well as a new entrance and adding new galleries to the Australian art space upstairs, the gallery's south-west corner will be enclosed in a glass box, covering up a third of the building.
At least 15 leading architects have called for a halt to the project until a management plan is developed for the gallery and the adjacent High Court.
The institute's national president, Graham Jahn, is co-ordinating the meeting, but is overseas until the end of next week.
``We'll hear out the points of view, but really I think it's an issue between architects," Kennedy said.
He was keen to ``advance the issues" but did not express optimism about a resolution.
``If it can't be, it can't be," Kennedy said. ``There are particular issues here which you either accept or you do not. Things need to be amended."
He could not release the Tonkin Zulaikha plans for publication ahead of parliamentary consideration. Tonkin Zulaikha won a competition to select an architect, not a design.
The $43 million refurbish-ment will be partly financed by the $20 million Federal loan announced on Tuesday.
© 2001 Sydney Morning Herald
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