Some projects ask the creative team to design a building. Others ask them to protect a legacy. For Fore Design, the Heysen Gallery at The Cedars in Hahndorf presented a rare opportunity to do both.
Created as the permanent home of the Hans and Nora Heysen collection, the gallery has been designed to preserve and showcase one of Australia’s most significant artistic legacies while remaining deeply connected to the landscape that inspired it.
Nestled within The Cedars, a place of extraordinary cultural and historical significance, the gallery represents a new chapter in the story of the Heysen family. More than an exhibition space, it is a purpose-built facility designed to safeguard artworks, support education and research, and enrich the visitor experience for generations to come.
Designing Beyond the Building
The gallery needed to provide contemporary museum and archival standards, while remaining sensitive to the character of The Cedars and the realities of operating a regional cultural institution. The Heysen Foundation wanted to create a lasting home for the Hans and Nora Heysen collection that not only protects these important works for future generations, but sits comfortably within the landscape that inspired so much of their creation.
Achieving that balance required a design approach grounded in practicality as much as aesthetics. As the project evolved, the design team refined the building footprint to respond to both operational requirements and economic realities. Rather than pursuing scale for its own sake, the focus shifted to creating a highly efficient gallery that would be practical to operate, maintain, and manage over the long term. This was particularly important for an organisation supported by a passionate volunteer community whose commitment has preserved The Cedars for decades. The result is a building that works hard behind the scenes while appearing effortless to visitors.
A Concept Rooted in the Adelaide Hills
From its earliest conception, the design response was guided by a simple principle: the gallery should feel inseparable from its environment.
The design introduces natural hardwood elements and a strong vertical rhythm to the primary façade, reflecting the heavily treed character of The Cedars and the surrounding Adelaide Hills landscape. These vertical timber forms draw inspiration from the trunks of the majestic eucalypts that feature so prominently throughout Hans Heysen’s paintings, creating a contemporary interpretation of the natural forms found across the site.
To further strengthen this connection, the main concrete façade has been carefully articulated through a tighter panel joint pattern. By reducing the spacing between panel joints, the design emphasises verticality and reinforces the rhythm established by the timber elements. Together, these layers create a façade that is both expressive and grounded, responding directly to its setting while maintaining a contemporary design aesthetic.
Natural materials, warm earthy tones and rich timber detailing establish a direct connection to the environment beyond the gallery walls. The colour palette references the textures and colours of the landscape itself, creating a subtle dialogue between the artwork housed within, the environment that inspired it and the sandstone of the original artist’s studio.
Material selection was equally important. Located within a high bushfire risk area, the gallery required a robust and resilient material selection, capable of meeting stringent bushfire requirements while retaining warmth and character. The resulting combination of ochre pigmented sandblasted concrete, hardwood, and carefully selected finishes ensure the building can perform in challenging conditions while remaining sympathetic to its surroundings.
Preserving the Landscape That Inspired the Art
Throughout the planning and design process, protecting the surrounding landscape was considered as important as protecting the artworks themselves. Considerable effort was invested in reducing the environmental impact of the development and preserving the landscape qualities that make The Cedars such an important cultural place.
Following initial consultation with the Native Vegetation Council, the design underwent significant refinement to minimise vegetation clearance. Early iterations identified 48 scattered trees that would require removal; through careful redesign and strategic placement of infrastructure, that number was reduced to just 13 trees.
Importantly, the gallery and associated infrastructure have been positioned predominantly within an area of existing exotic pine plantation. This approach allowed the project to avoid the more significant native vegetation areas that define The Cedars, including the iconic Heysen eucalypt forest. The scattered trees approved for removal were small specimens located within the pine plantation itself.
Collaboration Built Into Every Stage
The Heysen Gallery is the result of many people sharing a common goal: creating a home worthy of the Hans and Nora Heysen legacy.
Projects of this significance are never the work of a single organisation. From planning and design through to construction and furnishing, collaboration shaped every decision and helped navigate the challenges that inevitably arise when delivering a culturally important project within a heritage setting. A key part of that journey was the work undertaken by Flex Planning, which managed a complex planning approval process involving heritage, native vegetation, and CFS considerations, helping guide the project to its successful final approval.
For Fore Design, that collaborative approach was central to the project’s success. Reflecting on the journey Heysen Foundation Director, Kerry Heysen-Hicks AM acknowledged the commitment of the project team and the relationships that helped bring the gallery to life:
I’d like to thank John Ashcroft, our Project Manager whose company Fore Design steered us along what was on occasion a bumpy road. His professional manner went beyond what one would expect and his passion for the project and unruffled demeanour was stalwart throughout our adventure.
That steady leadership helped guide the project through planning, design development, and construction, ensuring the original vision remained intact while responding to changing project realities.
Kerry also reflected on the role of Design Director, Scott Robinson in translating the aspirations of The Cedars into a built form:
Scott listened to what we wanted and then delivered in a way that excelled.
The gallery’s carefully considered interiors were equally important to the visitor experience. Kerry recalls a simple request for foyer seating that became an example of the attention to detail throughout the project:
I need a bench to sit on, John, and have a look at what Emily delivered!
The resulting furniture and interior design elements – developed by Graduate of Architectural Studies, Emily Nitschke – help elevate the gallery experience while complementing the warmth and materiality of the built form.
Construction partner Marshall & Brougham shared an equally strong commitment to the vision. Despite challenging weather conditions, Andrew Marshall and the Marshall & Brougham team delivered the project with professionalism and care.
The result is the outcome of planners, architects, consultants, builders, trades and stakeholders all working towards a shared objective; to honour the Heysen legacy for future generations.
An Investment in Culture and Community that Continues the Heysen Story
Made possible through Federal Government funding under the Adelaide City Deal, the Heysen Gallery represents far more than a new piece of cultural infrastructure. It is an investment in heritage preservation, cultural tourism, education and community connection.
Perhaps the greatest success of the Heysen Gallery is that it feels like a natural extension of The Cedars itself. It does not compete with the heritage buildings, the landscape or the artwork. Instead, it strengthens the relationship between them allowing the built form, art, and place to speak to one another.
For Fore Design, that outcome reflects the essence of good design: understanding context, solving practical challenges, collaborating with purpose and creating places that are meaningful, enduring and connected to the people who use them.
As the gallery now welcomes visitors, it stands as a testament to what can be achieved through thoughtful design, careful planning and genuine collaboration. Reflecting on the project, Kerry Heysen-Hicks recalled how Paul Hicks, Site Foreman, would regularly encourage tradespeople to explore the property during construction:
Paul would send the tradies over to me so that I could show them the rest of The Cedars so that they understood they were building a jewel of a project.
That shared understanding became a defining characteristic of the gallery’s creation, as every person involved recognised they were contributing to something far greater than a building.
Today, the Heysen Gallery stands as a lasting home for the Hans and Nora Heysen collection, connecting art, landscape, and community while ensuring one of Australia’s most significant cultural stories continues to inspire future generations.