A breath of fresh air for contemporary art

The Museum of Contemporary Art reopens after a 21 month closure during which it underwent an expansion of almost 50% with added exposition spaces and services for visitors.

Another building takes its place in the renown skyline of Sydney’s port. Following great icons of the 1900s such as Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, the extension of the MCA adds a new architectural landmark to the North Shore.

The avant-garde design by Sam Marshall is perfectly integrated with the old sandstone building of 1991, which in turn was a renovation of the Art Deco former Maritime Services building.

The new structure adds an aggregation of deconstructed cubes to the serious Art Deco symmetries, with a chromatic palette based on strong contrasts.

Inside, the galleries are conceived as houses in and of themselves and each offers gorgeous views through rectangular frames, of the harbor outside and between the blocks themselves.

A glazed wall links each block, providing a guiding trail of the museum for those who have lost track of their route.

The use of new technologies aims at creating a new standard of public engagement. With the addition of a center for creative learning MCA tries to attract International artists. An effort that cost 53 million dollars and not only assures the museum a place in Sydney's collective imagery, but also as a cultural icon of the city.

Photos via marshall.net.au
www.mca.com.au