OMA and Hassell to Design New Western Australian Museum in Perth

The joint venture of OMA and Hassell, in collaboration with construction giant Brookfield Multiplex, has won the competition to design the expansion of the Western Australian Museum in Perth. The team prevailed in April over consortia including Foster and Partners with Hames Sharley, Ateliers Jean Nouvel with Cameron Chisholm Nicol, and Australian firm Parry & Rosenthal Architects. The design features a composite structure that integrates with existing museum buildings through precise volumes, with a central covered plaza dubbed the 'outdoor room' that connects to the city and can function independently of museum hours. The project includes a mix of heritage and contemporary architecture. Construction is set to begin in early 2017, with completion expected by 2020. The investment of AUD 428.3 million covers integration of spaces, new construction, restoration of collections, an artwork commission, and a donation to the museum's research center. The new museum will have nearly four times the current floor area, including approximately 7,000 square meters for permanent exhibitions and 1,000 square meters for temporary shows, plus commercial, dining, event, and research spaces.