Australia’s Venice pavilion: from ‘the dunny’ to ‘the black box’

Australia $7.5 million has opened in Venice to general acclaim and the occasional jeer.
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The permanent pavilion, designed by Denton Corker Marshall was officially opened by Minister for the Arts Senator George Brandis with actor-director Cate Blanchett on Tuesday afternoon, Venice time.

Already nicknamed ‘the black box’ It is a two level concrete and steel structure, clad in granite, designed as a white box within a black box. It replaces a temporary exhibition space designed by Philip Cox and shipped to Venice in 1988 which had been nicknamed ‘the dunny’.

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Deborah Stone
About the Author
Deborah Stone is a Melbourne journalist and communications professional. She is a former Editor of ArtsHub and a former Fairfax feature writer.