Integrating an art gallery into a heritage-listed estate

MUSEUM OF OLD AND NEW ART (MONA)

MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art has become one of Australia’s largest private museum.

It houses a diverse private collection, ranging from ancient Egyptian mummies to some of the world’s most infamous and thought-provoking contemporary art.

Consisting of almost 10,000 square metres of floor area over three levels cut into the triassic sandstone of the bank of the Derwent River, it includes five-star accommodation pavilions, a pool pavilion, winery extension, a round house / library extension and refurbishment.

The museum is integrated with the existing heritage listed Moorilla Estate house via an internal lift shaft and tunnel created by an extensive underpinning and excavation process.

The sawn sandstone face exposed during the early works forms the 140-metre long northern wall, and is a 10-metre high visible feature within the completed building.

Further works have recently commenced on The Turrell Pavilion, a 1,850 square-metre extension to the existing museum. It will house the work of artist James Turrell, which focuses on light and space.

RLB provided full quantity surveying services for this project.