As Australia’s national museum of screen culture since 2002, ACMI celebrates the universe of film, TV, videogames and art with a vibrant calendar of exhibitions, screenings, festivals, events and more. In 2018, ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) appointed BKK Architects to principally design its new public spaces as part of a landmark $40 million renewal.
Extending over four floors of the Alfred Deakin Building in Melbourne’s heritage-listed Fed Square, ACMI’s multi-level layout and multiple entry points had long been the source of visitor confusion and disorientation. ACMI’s vision was to transform the existing complex layout into a more cohesive, visitor-friendly experience. This challenging and exciting project saw us gut and replace the ground and first floors of ACMI’s premises, making room for increased exhibition space, improved AV and IT infrastructure, as well as fresh multi-purpose and educational spaces to propel ACMI into its next phase of life.
At the heart of our design is a large timber staircase connecting ACMI’s first two floors. With the beloved ACMI shop transplanted from the depths of the building to a more prominent, Flinders Street-facing position, the new foyer layout recalls the classic Melburnian laneway (included, but not realised, in the original Fed Square design).
