Plans filed for 'landmark' National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs

The Northern Territory government has filed a development application for the proposed National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.

The cultural institution, to be located at 7 Wills Terrace, will be dedicated to the display of works created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The design team includes BVN, Susan Dugdale and Associates (SDA), and landscape architects Aspect Studios and Clarsen and Clarsen. The key themes prioritised during the design process were "Designing with Country, habitable gardens, identifiable presence, rooms with a view and logical planning."

The main building is a five-storey gallery that consists of retail and cafe spaces at ground level, event spaces on the fourth floor, workshop spaces and a central spine atrium. The gallery envelope was inspired by a woven basket, which is reflected through the open weave of diagrid glazing and strategic apertures on the facade. A separate services building will also be established on the western side of the main gallery building.

Proposed external features include a publicly accessible open-air ampitheatre that overlooks the Todd River, a cultural space and landscape remediation area, on-site parking, a water play area named Kwatye Play and a main pedestrian thoroughfare called the Track, which will feature shade structures, seating and an offshoot network of smaller tracks.

An outdoor public amenities area has been proposed to serve users of the ampitheatre and Kwatye play area. The public amenities area takes the form of three disconnected pods under a floating canopy roof, with the separation of the pods providing greater visual permeability across the site.

Plans state that the National Aboriginal Art Gallery (NAAG) will empower and support the advancement of First Nations people as it will be governed, managed, curated and staffed by Indigenous Australians.

According to the December 2023 design report, the facility "will be an example of architectural excellence for national cultural institutions; a landmark building synonymous with Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and First Nations art, both nationally and internationally.

"The site includes a number of sacred sites. In addition, the surrounding landscape is culturally inscribed. Measures to protect the sacred sites and, where culturally appropriate, share stories will be incorporated into the design and landscaping."

The development application is on exhibition until 5 April 2024. If approved, construction is expected to begin in late 2027 and the gallery is anticipated to open in early 2028.