Virginia Overell

The site exists surrounded by flows, wind whips through between the buildings, the flow of the riverto the north and the flow of the highway which winds its way under the site. The surrounding buildings create a canyon like environment, with deep shade along the western edge.

The site is central to the iconic Melbourne arts precinct and is utilised day and night, year round. The plant selections for the Arts Precinct project are intended to extend collection or curation as driver from the galleries out into the landscape in turn referencing the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens.

As in the collection of the National Gallery, the plant choices attempt to be wide ranging crossing eras from primitive gymnosperms to modern cultivars, native and exotics, playing on colour, texture, scent, sound, light and form creating contrasting and complimentary displays in the changing microclimates across the site