New Powerhouse Museum design unveiled

The design for the relocated Powerhouse Museum has been selected with Moreau Kusunoki [Lead Design Architect] and Genton [Local Design Architect] chosen to establish the first major museum to be based in Western Sydney.

The architectural team’s bold vision for the museum has been selected following an international design competition which commenced in January 2019. 

Minister for the Arts Don Harwin was today joined by Parramatta MP, Minister Geoff Lee to make the announcement.

“We are thrilled to be appointing Moreau Kusunoki and Genton to design the new Powerhouse Museum. Their design is a bold visualisation of how contemporary cultural institutions can provide the inspiration, education and enjoyment that today’s audiences need and expect,” Mr Harwin said.

“The relocated Powerhouse Museum represents the largest investment in arts and culture infrastructure since the Sydney Opera House. Once this museum is built – there simply will not be another building like it in Australia – it will be a leading cultural institution in the South Pacific.

“The new Powerhouse will be a museum of applied arts and sciences that exemplifies how Sydney and Australia thinks about itself, its culture and our communities.”

The successful architects will now progress their design, signalling the next stage in the transformation of one of Australia’s most important cultural institutions. 

Dr Lee said the new museum will attract leading researchers, scientists and creatives from across Australia and around the world, while also providing ongoing opportunities for students from across NSW.

“This is what Western Sydney deserves – I can’t wait to see this incredible new institution in Parramatta,” Dr Lee said. 

Moreau Kusunoki and Genton said: “We envisage the new Powerhouse Museum as a hyper-platform, a building with many functions and limitless potential. The building will tread lightly on the site, with the architecture opening up towards the river, providing generous public space and creating an open 24-hour precinct.”

The international architectural competition saw more than 74 entries received from 20 countries.

More information is available at: https://maas.museum/new-powerhouse/