Meticulously Crafted – AGWA by Nic Brunsdon

The design store and foyer of the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) are the gallery’s first space to greet visitors on entry. Having worn many years of small and gradual improvements, the area was ready for a new era. Enter Nic Brunsdon and his team of collaborators, who set out to simplify and rationalise the entrance, reacquainting it with the brutalist countenance of the gallery’s architecture to create a space that’s nimble, tolerant and practical in its design.

The materials used for the refurbishment were limited to a modest palette inspired by the existing building — a combination of concrete, metal and travertine. Concrete is utilised to form the rear entry wall, anchoring the entrance upon arrival. Brushed metal is employed for the monolithic custom desk and shelving unit, and polished metal finishes the columns behind the desk leading to the staff area. Conceived as pieces of art themselves, a series of sculptural travertine objects adorning the desk house point-of-sale and other equipment. In the design store, the brushed aluminium shelving unit is remarkably understated and enhances the appearance of objects resting on its sur-faces, while the cleverly designed hexagonal pedestals serve as display units that facilitate adaptable spatial positioning.

The materials used for the refurbishment were limited to a modest palette inspired by the existing building — a combination of concrete, metal and travertine.

Nic Brunsdon’s work here has been meticulously crafted with practicality at the forefront of the design intent. The restoration sets out to honour a state icon and the original architectural program of the gallery building. The result is a timeless monument that welcomes visitors into the entry space of Western Australia’s pre-eminent arts institution