The White Rabbit Gallery houses one of the world’s largest and most significant collections of contemporary Chinese art, with a permanent collection of many of the major players in the contemporary Chinese art as well as multimedia manifestations of the rising avant-garde. This, along with a ground-breaking building reuse program has made it one of Sydney’s most loved galleries, and a force in the transformation of the Chippendale area.
Expand ContentOur commission was to convert a freestanding brick warehouse and add another floor to create four floors of gallery space, a tea-house, digital media theatre, reception, car parking and an artist-in-residence studio. The complex brief, and one we responded to with a quiet simplicity of vision: the raw, textured brick shell of the industrial warehouse is complimented by simple, modern alterations to create an invigorating gallery experience and a robust backdrop for the striking artwork collection.
A three-storey hall permits the display of large-scale works and brings the dramatic play of natural light into the deepest part of the building. Fluorescent light tubes are incorporated in place of conventional louvres within sculptural window casements.
Controlling the entry of natural light through the existing warehouse windows was a major concern. We sought a creative way to bring diffuse light into the building without glare or direct sun.
smart design studio
architecture from the inside out
