White Rabbit Gallery

Cultural

Client
Judith Neilson Projects

Year
2022

Location
Chippendale Sydney

Architect
Smart Design Studio

White Rabbit Gallery: A Cultural Landmark in Chippendale. When Judith Neilson sought to share her growing collection of cutting-edge contemporary Chinese art with the people of Sydney, she searched for the perfect location. She found it in Chippendale, in a large freestanding brick warehouse on Balfour Street—a former Rolls Royce service depot dating back to the Second World War.

Under the vision of William Smart of Smart Design Studio, the warehouse was transformed into a four-storey gallery that now houses exhibition spaces, a tea house, a theatrette, a library, and office facilities. A dramatic staircase connects the ground and second floors, offering glimpses of artworks displayed below. A glass lift extends from the ground floor to the third, where visitors can explore the library and an open loggia, in addition to further exhibition space.

At the gallery’s entrance, a three-storey atrium has been designed to showcase sculptural and installation works from the collection, while allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the heart of the building.

To modernise the façade while maintaining a connection to the building’s industrial past, fluorescent light tubes were incorporated within sculptural window boxes, replacing the original aluminium warehouse windows. These elements diffuse sunlight through the building’s exterior, creating a soft, ambient glow. A new, flat white roof extends beyond the parapet, providing a contemporary architectural feature that distinguishes this cultural landmark in Sydney’s inner city.

The gallery’s lighting design plays a crucial role in enhancing its architectural features and visitor experience. Onir LED Linear lighting was seamlessly integrated into the dramatic staircase, accentuating its sculptural form. Trimless linear profiles provide general illumination throughout corridors and beneath the staircase, while IP-rated LED profiles trace the roof’s perimeter, emitting a subtle glow that enhances the gallery’s presence at night. Additionally, LED lighting is thoughtfully incorporated into joinery elements, including bathroom interiors, display cabinets in the gallery shop, and the reception desk.

Since opening to the public in 2009, the gallery made an immediate impact on Sydney’s cultural scene with two major exhibitions—‘The Tao of Now’ and ‘The Big Bang’—both held in 2010. More than a decade later, it remains a vibrant and inclusive space where visitors can experience Judith Neilson’s extraordinary collection and engage with some of the most compelling contemporary Chinese art of our time.