Shepparton Art Museum Concept Design

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: MinifievanSchaik (MvS) Architects were invited by the Greater Shepparton City Council to develop a concept design for the Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) as part of a two-stage competition. MvS' design was one of five shortlisted from a pool of 88 entries. The other teams shortlisted were Denton Corker Marshall, John Wardle Architects, Kerstin Thompson Architects and Lyons. The five shortlisted designs were exhibited at the Eastbank Centre in Shepparton in January-February 2017. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: MvS proposed a design concept which favoured a small building footprint to create a tall freestanding museum - a unique type in regional Victoria. The spaces were centred around a central circulation atrium leading to an entire open level half way up, to provide shelter from the sun and views over Shepparton's scenic lake. The design was prepared on the back of a feasibility study conducted by MvS in consultation with Simon McArthur & Associates and Maudie Palmer AO, which proposed a new art museum for, and about, the unique community of the region. This work extends MvS' ongoing interest in projects that demonstrate social and economic development through cultural heritage strategy, and buildings with extensive interpretive content with environmental and ecological themes. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: SAM's two-stage competition was conducted in accordance with the Australian Institute of Architects' Competition Guidelines and endorsed by the Institute. MvS' design was reviewed and shortlisted by a 7-member jury consisting of professionals drawn from the arts, architecture/design, academia, Indigenous architecture and related industries. MvS was subsequently awarded $7000 to further develop the concept design, which was exhibited for public feedback. The project was featured in Architecture Australia, Art Monthly Australasia, The Age, Architecture and Design online magazine, Greater Shepparton council website, Shepparton News and the Shepparton Advisor.