three courtyards around which the galleries are built. These courtyards are the Oriental, Sculptural and Aus- tralian, all 10,000 sq. ft. and open to the sky.
The Oriental courtyard appears as a lake of washed river stones, round- ed bluestones and little bridges of bluestone blocks threading their way through a forest of bamboos. Ver- tical fountains splash through the washed river stones among the bamboo,
The Sculptural courtyard will con- tain some of the gallery's largest and finest sculpture, works by Rodin and Henry Moore, which can be seen at their best under natural daylight.
The Australian courtyard is lined with balconies as in an Elizabethan theatre. It is planned to use this area for all types of shows, for fashion. drama, ballet. folk-singing displays and performances, and to present original works by Australians.
An unusual feature of the gallery will be the availability of articles at any time. Works not immediately displayed will be stored on parallel sliding wire racks. Large or small, any object will be shown on demand.
Glass ceiling
The gallery has also a state recep- tion hall. About 200ft, long and 50ft. wide, it rises almost 50ft. to a glass ceiling made by the Australian artist Leonard French. Long columns rise from ground level to this 224-piece glass mosaic which took French six years to plan, design and complete.
A kaleidoscope of colour, the ceiling represents a giant Persian carpet depicting the Creation and Life. The centre-piece, a giant 48ft. turtle, is flanked by 30ft, suns in a design inhabited by birds.
The Belgian and French cut glass, one inch thick, was set in a special concrete to enable it to resist varying weather condi- tions, before the pieces were fitted together at the gallery. The ceiling is dazzling on a fine day when the sun's rays through the glass pieces cast sparkling rich reds, greens and flashing blues on the walls and floor.
Each end of the reception hall contains a balcony similar to the minstrels' galleries of
State reception hall in the art gallery is 200ft. long, 50ft. wide and 45 ft. high
old castles and manor houses. The hall's main bluestone wall is pierced at a high level with large openings that enable people passing through a circulation gallery from one side of the building to the other to have a closer look at the ceiling.
An important part of the building is the education section which pro- vides facilities for school visits.
An
art school will be completed at the rear of the gallery by mid-1969. Covering 25,000 sq. ft., it will be triangular in shape and will rise two storeys. The upper floor, with both top and side lighting. will be devoted entirely to painting studios. It will
accommodate up to 80 students.
The gallery's interior woodwork is Victorian mountain ash. There is al- most a complete absence of paint.
Apart from the spire, with a theatre at its base the bulk of the remaining buildings, the concert halls, will be underground. It is expected that the concert hall will hold 2,500, and will have a rehearsal studio. The theatre for opera and ballet will accommo- date 1,800; a drama theatre, 750; a general-purpose auditorium, 1,000; and an experimental theatre, 300.
Final plans for these buildings are expected soon to be submitted to the Victoria Government.
Model of the complete project showing the 415 ft. tower due for construction by 1972
Far East BUILDER, August 1968.
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