Award for Art & Architecture – Artspace Mackay
By Architect: Cox Rayner Architects
Artists: Jill Chism and Craig Walsh
This building clearly exemplifies the intention of the award, as it is a container for art, a sculptural work in its own right with the architect as artist, and demonstrates the seamless marriage of artist and architect, notably in the skin of the principal façade to the street where it is impossible to separate the work of architect and artist. In all, the building opens up a challenging dialogue on the notion of contemporary public art.
Architecture Award for Cultural Public Buildings- Artspace Mackay
By Cox Rayner Architects
Artspace Mackay is a community gallery that delivers on ambitions far beyond its modest brief for a principle gallery space and flexible ancillary spaces. The planning arrangement of the scheme allows for a number of community activities to be flexibly facilitated without compromising the restrained elegance or the international standard performance of the main gallery space. Great care has been taken in modelling its expressive, contemporary form, giving Mackay an intriguing and identifiable building with a symbolic dimension. The jury acknowledges this scheme as a polished accomplishment with power to provoke responses from both public and artists alike.
