Walking through the sunlit entrance of the Islamic Museum of Australia in Thornbury, it’s obvious that it’s more than just a converted warehouse.
The building was designed as a metaphor for the relationship between Australia and the Muslim world, drawing on traditional Islamic design principles and Australian elements such as a billabong and indigenous art.
Designed by Desypher, a Footscray-based architectural firm, the building’s facade is shrouded in a veil of rusted corten steel, perforated with circular holes to let light into the building.
Desypher managing director Issam Nabulsi’s perforations represent the longstanding connections between Islam and Australia, including the Maccassan fishermen who traded peacefully with Aboriginal people in the 1700s and the arrival of the cameleers in the 1800s.
Mr Nabulsi said the design of the building was largely determined by the building’s location and its purpose of educating the wider community about the Australian Muslim identity.
“We were conscious to resist the temptation to create a shallow representation of iconic Islamic architecture and plonk it on the banks of the Merri Creek,” he said.
“Instead we were careful to create a building which reflects the context of its Australian location and we have created a modern building, which features subtle hints of Islam in abstracted forms.”
Mr Nabulsi said the building was designed to encourage visitors to seek out new spaces.
“We are inviting them to see past the veil, walk over bridges, explore beyond the stereotypes about Muslims which exist today.
“We have designed each gallery with a sense of intrigue and exploration in mind — rather than seeing each door to the next space in front of you, visitors must seek out the next room behind hallways or hidden walkways and this represents the journey of exploration guests are undertaking as they absorb the information throughout the museum.”
Visitors have to cross an internal walkway from the billabong between the reception area and the first gallery.
“This represents the physical act of crossing over the bridge between east and west,” Mr Nabulsi said.
The billabong area also cools the building, which he said used passive design principles and a series of computer-operated louvred walls to measure the inside temperature and draw in fresh air from the billabong and distribute it throughout the building.
The museum consists of five permanent galleries showcasing Islamic faith, Islamic contribution to civilisation, art and architecture and Australian Muslim history.
A sixth gallery will house touring exhibitions of local and international artists.
The Islamic Museum of Australia, at 15A Anderson Rd, Thornbury, will open to the public on March 3.
Opening hours from Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm, Friday 10am to 9pm.
For more information go to islamicmuseum.org.au