Description

Completed in 2002, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) is a multi-use facility built for the Victorian State Government in Melbourne, Australia. The project combined the existing infrastructure of three organisations—ACCA, Chunky Move and Playbox—to create a unified major presence in the arts, and form a precinct with the existing Malthouse Theatre building located on the adjacent site.

The building references its primary function as a sculpture in which to exhibit art. The bold form and materiality of the façade create a strong presence and express optimism, and create the sense of a robust laboratory for experimentation. Those using the building are meant to feel comfortably challenged.

Referencing the warehouses and foundries that once occupied the site, the predominant architectural vocabulary is that of the shed: steel framing and taut metal skin. Coupled with the single dominant cladding material—large insulated trays of Corten steel—the sculptural form simultaneously alludes to the Industrial Age and natural landforms.

What's On

Visit ACCA to explore our iconic and award winning architectural building designed by Wood Marsh, and experience our current exhibition Are you lonely tonight? I’m so lonesome I could cry., featuring work by artists from around the word, including Polly Borland, Seth Brown, Lucy Liu, Kayla Mattes and Martine Syms, among others. Entry is always free.

On Saturday, join us for a floor talk with curator Myles Russell-Cook.

Want to learn more about the exhibition? Join us on Sunday for Art in Focus, a free exhibition tour led by ACCA's knowledgeable Visitor Experience team.