Request for Expressions of Interest for the redevelopment of the Australian Pavilion, Venice, Italy

The Australia Council invites expressions of interest from Australian registered architects and architectural practices interested in the role of architect for the redevelopment of the Australian Pavilion in Venice, Italy.

This tender is now closed.

The Australia Council for the Arts wishes to redevelop the Australian Pavilion in Venice, Italy. The new pavilion will reflect high functionality and exemplary architecture, delivered within the limited budget and other constraints of the project.

The current Australian Pavilion in Venice, Italy was built in 1988 and is one of 29 national pavilions in the Giardini della Biennale (Biennale Gardens). It stands on land owned by the City of Venice and was the last exhibition pavilion in the Giardini granted by the authorities. The architect, Philip Cox, and other generous donors gifted this pavilion to the Australian Government. After 23 years of service, the pavilion has been subject to significant wear and tear and can be challenging as an exhibition space.

The Australia Council is seeking to build a new permanent Australian Pavilion. The primary use of the new Australian Pavilion is as a public exhibition space, and as such the designed space must be flexible, adaptable and provide for multiple and cross-disciplinary art presentations. The new pavilion will occupy a similar footprint as the existing structure, that is, a covered area of approximately 320m2.

 

The successful architect will be selected through a two-stage process: an open call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to determine a shortlist of firms who will then be invited to submit a detailed tender proposal against the design brief, after which one will be awarded the contract. The appointed architect may be required to work with an Italian firm to be appointed by the Australia Council. The Selection Panel will consist of the following individuals:

  • Mr Luca Belgiorno-Nettis AM (Joint Managing Director of Transfield Holdings; Chair, Biennale of Sydney)
  • Mr Doug Hall AM (Australian Commissioner, Venice Biennale 2011; a former Director, Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art, 1987-2007)
  • Ms Kathy Keele (CEO, Australia Council for the Arts)
  • Mr Simon Mordant (Australian Commissioner, Venice Biennale 2013; Chair, Museum of Contemporary Art)
  • Mr Brian Zulaikha (Director, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects; President, Australian Institute of Architects

Expression of Interest Document

Details of the EOI can be found in the Request for EOI document available here:
http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/107157/Expressions_of_Interest_EOI_-_Redevelopment_of_Australian_Pavilion_Venice_Italy_-_29_AUG.pdf

Responses to questions regarding this EOI can be found here:
Venice Pavilion response to questions - 8 September 2011

 

Responses to Questions

The Australia Council will endeavour to post answers to questions we receive regarding this tender. Please check this list regularly during the tender period. Please read the most recent document before send an inquiry regarding this tender.

 


 

Contacts

Please direct any inquiry regarding the tender to:

 

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