MUSEUM EXTENSION

The Golden Dragon Museum Executive Board and Management team is very pleased to present the concept design for the museum extension.

The building design takes into consideration the physical environment which is pre-existing. The Yin and Yang philosophy is a theory of balance in life, and this philosophy has been considered when designing the new shape for the museum extension. The Chinese gardens are a positive energy whilst the Gaol is a negative energy. This is represented through the convex and concave building design. The flat front of the building absorbs the positive energy (from the new Dai Gum San forecourt) whilst the curved wall along Gaol Road, deflects the negative energy (from the gaol).

The new museum extension pays respect to the historical Chinese site in Bridge Street. Wrapping itself around the pre-existing Golden Dragon Museum, it creates the Sun Loong Gallery as the centrepiece. With the dragon domain being located in the centre, this creates balance in feng shui.

Depicted in the ‘outside shell’ of the building is the ‘Chinese wheel of life’ and provides the building with the clear distinction that the building is of Chinese nature.

The new development will stretch over three levels. Visitors can expect a restaurant, gift shop, a large exhibition space for touring exhibitions and functions, as well as an internal courtyard garden on the ground floor. At the rear of the building we have a loading bay to bring in and take out travelling exhibitions, but also allowing an area to receive donations and providing a ‘quarantine’ area.

Located on the first floor is more exhibition space an urgent requirement of the museum.  Visitors will be able to learn more about the collection, with an interactive area. An internal void allows visitors to view the lower level and into the garden courtyard.

A Chinese tea room and look out will be on the second floor and provide a view over the top of Rosalind park and a full frontal view of the city’s centre.

The rooves of all three levels are higher than typical ceilings to allow for large artefacts to be displayed.

For the Bendigo Chinese it is important for the building to house their significant collections that must be preserved.  This preservation requires very specific environments, whist allowing visitors to view and move around the space, that is safe for the collection and the public. This design does that.

It is also making a statement about the Chinese community here in Bendigo. Going from strength to strength, it is a vibrant, progressive organisation that is today… the Chinese Cultural Centre of Australia.

Golden Dragon Museum Extension Building Concept design by Woods Bagot TM