The design of the National Portrait Gallery is inspired by the particularly relevant Vitruvian notion that the proportion of a building should correspond to that of a person. The plan is a simple configuration of day-lit galleries, with the public spaces all on a single level. But the gallery is a rich sequence of carefully composed spaces. Each space enjoys controlled natural light from translucent clerestory windows and views to the exterior landscape. A rich palette of materials and plants from around Australia counterpoint the directness of the concrete structure. Detailing highlights the method of construction and the crafting of materials.
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