Niagara Galleries facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Niagara Galleries |
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Niagara Galleries, back entrance (2013)
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| General information | |
| Type | Gallery |
| Architectural style | Postmodern |
| Address | 245 Punt Road |
| Town or city | Richmond |
| Country | Australia |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 120 m2 (1,300 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Edmond and Corrigan |
| Main contractor | Builder: Claudius Pty Ltd |
| Awards and prizes | Colorbond Award 2002 |
| Other information | |
| Parking | At Rear |
Niagara Galleries is an art gallery in Richmond, Melbourne, Australia. It shows modern and contemporary Australian art. The gallery building used to be an old house, but it has been changed a lot with a cool, modern design.
Contents
History of the Gallery
The Niagara Galleries started in 1978. It was founded by two friends, Peter Gant and William Nuttall. They named it after its first location on Niagara Lane in Melbourne.
In early 1983, the gallery moved to its current spot at 245 Punt Road in Richmond. Peter Gant later left the partnership. Today, the gallery works with 51 different artists. It shows and sells many types of art, like paintings, sculptures, photos, and ceramics.
About the Building's Design
The gallery is in an old Victorian building. This building was first built for workers to live in. Later, it became a boarding house and then a shoe company.
In 2002, a famous architecture firm, Edmond and Corrigan, added a new part to the back. This new section has a very different, modern style. It stands out from the older part of the building.
Modern Features
The new part of the gallery is a bold addition. It's mostly a rectangle, continuing the first floor of the old building. But then, a sharp, angled shape sticks out towards the back entrance. This pointy part hangs over the old building's edges. It makes the corner very noticeable from the street.
The top part of this new section is covered in black and white stripes. This material is called Colorbond. Bright yellow frames highlight the square windows. Underneath the part that hangs over, there's a strong red color. This red extends to the new back entrance.
Design Ideas and Influences
The design of Niagara Galleries is quite famous. It has been compared to other buildings by Edmond and Corrigan. The architect, Peter Corrigan, believed that exciting buildings should be "difficult." This means they should challenge what we expect.
For this gallery, he made the new part look very different from the old neighborhood. Corrigan also loved art. He wanted the building's outside to feel like art itself. The vibrant design encourages people to think about art and architecture together. Some parts even remind people of famous Australian artist Sidney Nolan's paintings.
Corrigan chose black and white for the building's outside. These are the gallery's main colors. They also refer to the client's favorite football team, Collingwood.
Corrigan wanted the building to make a strong statement about selling art. He felt that art sales should not be hidden. This idea influenced the design of the private viewing room. It's a large, open space. The bold outside of the building also supports this idea.
Awards for the Design
The Niagara Galleries building won several awards in 2002. It received the Chapter BHP Colorbond Award. It also won the Dulux Colour Awards for Commercial Exterior Winner.
Images for kids
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Niagara Galleries, Front Entrance.
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Main Entrance to Niagara Galleries from Punt Road.
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Rowena Parade View of Niagara Galleries.
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Red Detail of Niagara Galleries extension designed by Edmond and Corrigan.
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Back Entrance to the Niagara Galleries with Old and New Sections.
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A Private Courtyard in Niagara Galleries, a part of the new extension by Edmond and Corrigan.
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Interior view of Niagara Galleries.
