May 13th, 2013

National Museum’s $3.1 million new cafe now open

The National Museum of Australia’s new cafe and extension has recently opened, taking advantage of the museum’s location on the Acton Peninsula by jutting the new section out towards Lake Burley Griffin.

At a cost of $3.1 million, architects Ashton Raggatt McDougall were commissioned to do the work, not least to clear the main hall of tables and chairs and the remnants of the old cafe and create space to show the big exhibits previously in storage in Mitchell.

Museum director Andrew Sayers makes sure to get his morning cappuccino from the institutions stunning new cafe, not just for the newly opened-up lake views.

“I also get to talk to the other staff who are here for coffee. You learn a lot in the coffee queue about what’s really going on,” he said with a laugh.

Mr Sayers said that the next step would likely be a revamp of the internal galleries so that visitors had a more “coherent” experience of the museum. Most of the galleries were now 12 years old and in need of a re-jig.

Source:
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/museums-31m-cafe-and-extension-now-open-20130222-2ew99.html