Site Overview
site name:
National Gallery and High Court of Australia Precinct
architect(s):
Edwards Madigan Torzillo & Briggs
date of commission:
1972
date of completion:
1982
address:
Parkes Pl, Parkes, ACT 2600
classification / typology:
Administration / Power (ADM)
protection status:
listed 2009
fiche editor:
Eric Martin, 2010, updated 2014
Description
The Precinct fulfills the design brief which was to emphasise the visual impact of the Gallery and the High Court, their entrance podium and the lake beyond. It also noted that the High Court and Gallery group were to become a single precinct in visual terms with the High Court the dominating feature (Pearson et al 2000).
The external form of the buildings, derived from the function of the internal areas, creates the visual strength of the design. The pattern of the columns of varying heights, the projecting and recessing forms of the off-form concrete shapes and the different building expressions on every building facade is an integrating feature of the design. The Gallery structure and spatial organisation are disciplined by the imposed order throughout of a three-dimensional geometry based on the four sided tetrahedron and equilateral triangle, which also informs the setout of paths and sculptures in the Sculpture Garden.
The High Court and National Gallery design and craftsmanship have been noted by Taylor (1990) as ‘the most forthright examples of Australian civic architecture of their decade and in the case of the National Gallery, the most conclusive statement of the ideals and creativity of Madigan.’ The High Court of Australia and the Australian National Gallery were awarded the Canberra Medallion by the Royal Australian Institute of Architecture, in 1980 and 1982 respectively.
The design teams from the firms of EMTB and Harry Howard and Associates along with the Director James Mollison developed the design plans for the Sculpture Garden and precinct planting. The Sculpture Garden’s design continued the triangular geometry of the Gallery in its circulation pattern, spatial arrangement and concrete elements of bridges and terraces. The selection of local indigenous plants although informally grouped have a controlled aesthetic of foliage and colour enframing spaces for displaying the national sculpture collection.
High Court
The structural engineering for the project was by Miller Milston and Ferris (Engineers Pty Ltd), the mechanical and hydraulic engineering by Frank Taplin and Partners, the electrical and fire services engineering by Addicoat Hogarth Wilson Pty Ltd, the acoustic engineering by Peter R. Knowland and Associates, the quantity surveying by D R Lawson and Associates and the contractor was PDC Construction ACT Pty. Miller Milston and Ferris gave particular attention to reduction of shrinkage through the use of specified low shrinkage concrete, through controlled placing sequence, and through planned jointing (EMTB el al 1980).
National Gallery
The structural engineering for the project was by Miller Milston and Ferris (Engineers Pty Ltd), the mechanical and hydraulic engineering by Frank Taplin and Partners, the electrical and fire services engineering by Addicoat Hogarth Wilson Pty Ltd, the acoustic engineering by Peter R. Knowland and Associates, the quantity surveying by D R Lawson and Associates, and, the contractor was PDC Construction ACT Pty. Miller Milston and Ferris gave particular attention to reduction of shrinkage through the use of specified low shrinkage concrete, through controlled placing sequence, and through planned jointing (EMTB et al 1980).
The contractor for both buildings was PDC Constructions (ACT), subsidiary of White Industries Ltd.
The contracting authority for both buildings was the National Capital Development Commission, Roger Johnson, Chief Architect.