Woods Bagot and DS+R win Adelaide Contemporary International Design Competition

Slated to be built along Adelaide’s North Terrace, the concept was envisioned by the architectural team as a dynamic, people-friendly place with an expertly designed gallery. Added features that helped to enhance its connection to the immediate community include the “Super Lobby,” the floating top-floor sky galleries, and a suspended rooftop garden. The garden also resonates with the Kaurna population—the Indigenous Australians native to the Adelaide Plains of South Australia—which will feature local flora that was present before this area’s colonization.

The architectural design team also collaborated with Oculus, Pentagram, Right Angle Studio, Klynton Wanganeen, Dustin Yellin, Studio Adrien Gardère, Australian Dance Theatre, Deloitte, Ekistics, and Katnich Dodd.

“In a magnificent example of international collaboration, our studios are working together with a spirit of generosity and mutual respect. Adelaide Contemporary will be a key cultural institution for the state of South Australia, and we’re thrilled to bring this relationship to a project of such significance,” Nik Karalis, Woods Bagot’s Chief Executive Officer, said.

The nine-person international jury found that the concept resonated with Adelaide and its history of festival culture. The multipurpose spaces and understanding of the practice of curating art paired with a distinctive configuration set within a nine-square model promises the ability to attract new audiences and host future events.