Gunnery Transformation

This project revitalises the Gunnery building as an integrated space for the production and presentation of contemporary art. The Gunnery has had many lives: as a bond warehouse for the Sydney Morning Herald, naval gun training facility, artists squat, and the home of a collection of arts and culture organisations, including Artspace. It is a State Heritage building, listed in part for its connection with the development of contemporary art in Australia. The redevelopment of the Gunnery extends Sydney’s cultural ribbon, connecting Walsh Bay with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Opera House, Macquarie St, Art Gallery of NSW and the new Sydney Modern. The project brief required: - A gallery of international standards. - Minimised disturbance to the original fabric while maximising impact for the community. - Supporting Artspace’s aim to be ‘ever-changing, ever-challenging’. - Showcasing of the structure, the history, and stories of the building. With these principles in place, we developed strategic moves: - Move the entry to the pedestrian plaza, increasing visibility and engagement with the public domain. - Create a double height void at the entry as an exhibition space for large works. - Incorporate industrial winch operated and counter-weighted windows to give a dramatic first impression for visitors. - Remove built elements that obscure the timber structure. We took cues from the buildings’ history, form, rhythm and character when looking for ways to insert new program. Elements of the building needing repair or removal were targeted as the place for intervention to minimise impact on original fabric. The project is about transforming this historic warehouse into a welcoming public building and supporting Artspace in their work. Artspace engage strongly with the local Woolloomooloo community, provide studio space for local, regional, and international artists, collaborate with major and minor arts institutions, and connect both to their international networks. The result is a series of world class gallery, studio, and education spaces, that significantly widen the possibilities of creating and showcasing contemporary art in Australia.