The Western Australia Boola Bardip Museum, a project designed by Australian design firm Hassell and the Netherlands’ Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), has opened in Perth’s cultural precinct.
Unveiled in 2017, the 21,500 sq m museum is described by OMA as a "collection of stories", showcasing the history and culture of Western Australia.
Working with managing contractor Multiplex, Hassell and OMA connected heritage buildings and new structures with two intersecting vertical and horizontal circulation loops.
Among the existing buildings integrated into the development are the mid-19th century Old Gaol, the 1899 Jubilee Building, the original 1908 Art Gallery and Hackett Hall, a 1913 state library reading room.
A cantilevered volume over the Hackett Hall has created the City Room, a sheltered outdoor space that will host cultural programmes and daily activities.
Peter Dean, Hassell’s design director, said: "We’re proud to have successfully designed and delivered an international civic project that involved extensive collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders, in particular the Whadjuk elders."
Paul Jones, OMA’s regional director, said: "The museum is unique in both the Australian and international cultural landscape. It invites visitors to not only passively look at exhibitions, but also become active creators of their own museum experiences. Visitors can choose museum journeys relevant to them and engage in dialogues with each other."
Images courtesy of Hassell and OMA
