Case Studies
Orange Regional Museum
Design Feature
Type of Project
Local Government Initiative
State
NSW
Location
Regional
Officially opening in November 2016, the Orange Regional Museum (the Museum) forms part of the Cultural and Civic Precinct in Orange, New South Wales. The precinct is centrally located and includes the Orange City Library, the Orange Regional Gallery and Art Gallery (ORLAG), the Orange Civic Theatre, Council Chambers and offices and the Visitor Information Centre.
The Museum development has established a new civic square, including a public amphitheatre that allows access to an innovative sloping grassed roof, returning public open space to the community. The development invites residents and visitors to peruse the precinct, utilise the services and generally enjoy their experience in Orange. The Museum was awarded Sulman Medal for Public Architecture and the NSW Premier’s Prize at the 2017 NSW Architecture Awards.
The Museum development has established a new civic square, including a public amphitheatre that allows access to an innovative sloping grassed roof, returning public open space to the community. The development invites residents and visitors to peruse the precinct, utilise the services and generally enjoy their experience in Orange. The Museum was awarded Sulman Medal for Public Architecture and the NSW Premier’s Prize at the 2017 NSW Architecture Awards.
Bringing the fun into design
The addition of the new cultural facility and services enhance the liveability of Orange, adding to its reputation as one of the most attractive cities in regional NSW. Access to cultural and learning centres are key deciders for families considering settling in a particular city and Orange’s vibrant cultural offering gives the City a competitive advantage over similar regional cities.
The development of a regional museum had its beginnings in 2002 when a museum program was established. In the following years, numerous rounds of community consultation were conducted to gauge support and interest in the proposal. A museum in the cultural precinct was a long-held aspiration by community members as the central location of the site, surrounded by public open spaces, was seen as the ideal place to celebrate the history and future of Orange and surrounding region. Highlighting the efforts of well-intended and well-managed consultation, there were no formal objections or complaints lodged by the community or stakeholders throughout the planning process.
The development of a regional museum had its beginnings in 2002 when a museum program was established. In the following years, numerous rounds of community consultation were conducted to gauge support and interest in the proposal. A museum in the cultural precinct was a long-held aspiration by community members as the central location of the site, surrounded by public open spaces, was seen as the ideal place to celebrate the history and future of Orange and surrounding region. Highlighting the efforts of well-intended and well-managed consultation, there were no formal objections or complaints lodged by the community or stakeholders throughout the planning process.
Community engagement undertaken in 2010 – 2013 though focus groups and surveys outlined the community’s aspirations for a museum. A total of 621 people participated in the community survey or as a member of a focus group. Respondents strongly supported the development of a regional museum in Orange, 81.5% described the initiative as either very important or important. Tourism, education and economic development were identified as the key attributes of the museum that would benefit the region.
Following a competitive tender process, Crone was engaged to develop a new building in the existing cultural precinct. The Crone team designed a building that placed the integrated museum and visitor centre on the south court of the existing cultural precinct. A concept was developed to strengthen connections to the existing infrastructure and to create a forecourt and a cafe with frontage to busy Byng Street. Construction then commenced in 2015.
Following a competitive tender process, Crone was engaged to develop a new building in the existing cultural precinct. The Crone team designed a building that placed the integrated museum and visitor centre on the south court of the existing cultural precinct. A concept was developed to strengthen connections to the existing infrastructure and to create a forecourt and a cafe with frontage to busy Byng Street. Construction then commenced in 2015.
The building is visible through Robertson Park and has multiple facades. The six-metre high grassed roof is a defining feature of the design, rising from the existing lawn, providing a public green space and new vantage point to the adjacent Robertson Park and across Orange City. Intended as a flexible space, the lawn can be used for a variety of functions including outdoor exhibitions or simply an area for visitors to relax. For those unable to walk up the ramp or the stairs, there is a lift available to access the lawn.
The form took shape after taking into consideration various site constraints including natural access paths and storm water channel, as well as the height of the neighbouring Sulman Award winning Library/Gallery. The design needed to be respectful of the existing architecture and enhance the already well-loved precinct.
The Museum development is welcoming, innovative, functional and economical to run. It is also sustainable, flexible and responsive to the precinct context and audiences and, most importantly, the Museum and precinct are visitor friendly. The precinct is now a true destination an encouraging visitors to walk around the gallery which adds to the strong sense of place for the existing site. The Orange Regional Museum will act as the heart of storytelling, discovery and knowledge across Orange, Blayney and Cabonne Council areas. It will support the community museums and collections of Central NSW through collaborative projects and training in interpretation, documentation, conservation, and exhibition development.
The Museum development is welcoming, innovative, functional and economical to run. It is also sustainable, flexible and responsive to the precinct context and audiences and, most importantly, the Museum and precinct are visitor friendly. The precinct is now a true destination an encouraging visitors to walk around the gallery which adds to the strong sense of place for the existing site. The Orange Regional Museum will act as the heart of storytelling, discovery and knowledge across Orange, Blayney and Cabonne Council areas. It will support the community museums and collections of Central NSW through collaborative projects and training in interpretation, documentation, conservation, and exhibition development.
Project team
- Crone Architects
- Orange & District Historical Society
- Orange Regional Museum Advancement Association
- Orange Regional Museum Fund Ltd were advocates for the Museum and cultural precinct and supported the project.
- Museum adviser
- Council staff
- Freeman Ryan developed the concept of the museum internal spaces
- Zauner Construction
Project Cost
- $ 9 Million including Orange Regional Museum Fund Ltd donation of approximately $250,000
Health value
- Visitors are enticed to walk up (and children to roll down) the grassed roof and spend time outdoors.
- The site features diagonal paths that link Byng Street to March Street at the rear of the site. One path is aligned with the walkway in Robertson Park across the road which encourages visitors to move through the site.
Economic value
- The enhanced space expands visitors’ understanding of all there is to see and do in the district by enriching their experience of Orange, meeting their needs and producing good word-of-mouth among visitors. This encourages increased interest in, and visitation to the area – subsequently stimulating the local economy.
- Economic development flowing from new facilities will enable Orange to tap into the wider market (e.g. regional conferences) and showcase the Orange region as a true destination.
Environmental value
- The thermal mass of the building sought not only to maximise passive heating, cooling and acoustic strategies, but to use its form to improve the surrounding microclimate: Shielding the new square, shading the pathways and using the green roof to reduce the urban heat island effect.
- The building provides pollutant-free indoor environments, lighting and thermal comfort and opportunities for natural ventilation through operable façade elements.
Social value
- The diversity of the site, including the grassed roof, seating steps, café, library and gallery enables groups to interact and caters for a broad range of interests, facilitating planned and unplanned social interactions, strengthening the social fabric of Orange.
- The museum and Gallery will be able to offer schools a choice of education programs, which will make organising excursions more worthwhile for teachers in Orange and the district.
Use value
- The Museum space has been designed to be as open and flexible as possible to adapt to ongoing client and community requirements or events.
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