John Olsen (b.1928)

John Olsen is one of Australia's most significant and accomplished artists and is recognised for this both nationally and internationally for his energetic and distinctive art.

Olsen's name is widely associated with his exuberant and colloquial You Beaut Country series which firmly established his reputation in the early 1960s. He is also famous for his interpretation of Sydney harbour in his commission for the Sydney Opera House called The Salute to Five Bells undertaken in the 1970s.

Plants, birds and animals began to feature in his works during the 1970s and 80s when he travelled extensively across the country, giving new insights into Australia's regional and desert landscapes though he has always sought to capture a spiritual and universal dimension to the landscape and the natural world in his work.

An art gallery for John Olsen with walls and openings acting as "Frames" of his paintings. The gallery is designed with a concept of "The City inside a City". As John Olsen is famous with his large scale landscape, birds and tree drawings, gardens at the front and the back are designed to separate the gallery space and the streets. John Olsen's famous paintings "The Five Bells" is located in front of the apartment and "The Salute to Five Bells" will be located on the wall inside the courtyard area.

Site




Doors




Apartment & Glass Box




Living Area




Whole Gallary




Gallery & Workshop




Large Painting Room




Small Painting Room




Office & Underground Stockroom








Entrance to the Courtyard




Courtyard - Pool & The Salute to Five Bells




Courtyard - Office & Gallery




Courtyard Gallery




Gallery & Workshop




Large & Small Painting Rooms




Courtyard Gallery & The Pool




Backyard




Gallery - Interior




Courtyard - Balcony & The Pool




Skylights & The Courtyard




Gallery Open Space




Office & The Courtyard Gallery





Large Painting Room - Pool

Plans




Plans & Index




Long Sections aa / bb




Short Section cc


The private access is a turning wall located behind the pool secretly.
The lobby area of the gallery uses the sloped wall to reflect daylights into the building.
The viewing glass is locate on the ground of the gallery space (to view the relfections of The Salute to Five Bells through the pool).
The workshop is connected to the apartment with a glass bridge.


Short Section dd


The Balcony above the office allows visitor to interact with the people who arrives the courtyard area. A courtyard gallery is located behind the long wall.


Short Section ee


The stockroom is located underground with an hidden turning wall entrance.
Walls within the large painting room got a triangular cut at it's top, to reflect lights to the ceiling (with a large painting on it).
The balcony on top of the small painting room allows visitor to view the backyard and the playground.


Short Section ff


The door for the bathroom within the workshop is blocked with a wall to separate the two spaces.
The private access is separated to the public route.
An interior garden is located at the lobby of the gallery, acting as a piece of art welcoming the visitors.


Short Section gg


The viewing glass is located on the wall at the eye level of the gallery space (to view the large paintings in the glass box)
The living space is connected with the glass box, allowing a private exhibition of the large paintings.


Short Section hh


The large painting inside the gallery space is framed by it's wall (when viewing back inside the gallery).


Level Height & Functions


Similar to the Villa Muller, the level height for each room were design with the consideration of it's function. (e.g the level height for gallery space is higher than the living area)


Public & Private


The rooms for public use & private use are separated. Although the workshop is located inside the gallery space, it can only access though the apartment. The route for private use is hidden behind the walls.






Section (1:50)







Plan (1:50)