In May 2023 the Mt Barker Council approved plans for a Hans Heysen gallery at The Cedars – the Hahndorf house and studio where the acclaimed German-born painter lived and worked from 1912 to 1968.

New plans have now been released by design and town planning firm Beyond Ink, with a multipurpose building designed for the housing and protection of works by Hans and Nora Heysen.

The redesign follows two previous versions of the project; the 2023 plans from firm Snøhetta, and an initial $22 million plan in 2018.

Beyond Ink said the newly approved plans responded to the current financial realities of the construction industry with a the size of the planned building reduced, allowing for a more manageable operating footprint.

Gallery construction is set to begin in August with the aim of opening to the public a year later.

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The gallery is funded through a $9 million federal grant as part of the Adelaide City Deal, and $3 million from Mount Barker District Council.

This gallery plan approved last year has been discarded. Image: Hans Heysen Foundation/Snøhetta

Mayor David Leach said the council was pleased to see the project progressing.

“This project represents a significant investment within the art and tourism industry,” he said.

“[It] ensures that the works of Hans Heysen and his daughter Nora, along with their residence, The Cedars, is celebrated and accessible to tourists, our community, and art lovers from around the world, in perpetuity,” he said.

Beyond Ink senior town planner Sonia Gallarello said the variation to the original plans meant the new building was smaller in form and scale, but with no changes to the carpark or vegetation loss initially planned.

The revised plans for the Heysen Gallery. Image: Beyond Ink

Senior designer Scott Robinson said the gallery would “foster an immersive exploration of both the artistic oeuvre of Hans and Nora Heysen, and the unique scenic beauty of The Cedars”.

“The design is bold, yet firmly ingrained in the essence of the Adelaide Hills and the values of the Heysen family,” he said.

Hans Heysen Foundation chair James Sexton said the group was “thrilled to have received this approval”.

The revised plans for the Heysen Gallery. Image: Beyond Ink

The revised plans for the Heysen Gallery. Image: Beyond Ink