The “Modern Sydney” project is a century-long renovation of the 151-year-old Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. It aims to create an art museum campus comprising two buildings connected by an art garden situated above Gadigal Country, overlooking Sydney Harbour. The centerpiece of this project is a new building designed by SANAA, founded by architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa.
The SANAA-designed building features a series of interlocking exhibition halls arranged in a stepped formation, extending towards Sydney Harbour and harmonizing with the site’s natural contours. This design complements the 19th-century neoclassical façade and the renovated portions of the original art gallery. The exhibition spaces are positioned low and light on the site, following the natural landform.
This new building not only provides much-needed exhibition space for the “Modern Sydney” project but also enhances the surrounding public spaces. It preserves and celebrates significant trees and improves access to Sydney’s eastern cultural district. Additionally, the facility includes spaces for art research and education, multifunctional areas, galleries, shops, dining venues, and visitor amenities.
The new building is designed to meet the evolving expectations of 21st-century art museum visitors. It has ample capacity to accommodate future growth in visitor numbers and offers welcoming spaces for students, educators, and artists alike.
The Sydney Museum of Modern Art is the first public art museum in Australia to achieve the highest environmental design standards. The “Modern Sydney” project received a 6-star Green Star rating from the Australian Green Building Council, surpassing the museum’s initial 5-star goal and setting a new global benchmark for sustainable art museums.
Project Information
△ General layout plan
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Third floor plan
△ Fourth floor plan
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Partial sectional view
△ Partial sectional view
△ Analysis chart
Project Information
Architect: SANAA
Area: 40,000 square meters
Project Year: 2022
Photographers: Iwan Baan, Jörg Baumann
Lead Architects: Kazuyo Sejima & Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA
Executive Architect: Architectus
Builder: Richard Crookes Construction
Location: Sydney, Australia
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