How the new Heysen Gallery was redesigned to save 35 trees at The Cedars

Images: Supplied

A new gallery has opened in the Adelaide Hills, creating a purpose-built home for the work of Hans and Nora Heysen within the very landscape that inspired some of their most celebrated art.

The newly completed Heysen Gallery at The Cedars in Hahndorf has been designed by Fore Design to protect, showcase and interpret the Heysen collection, while remaining closely connected to the historic property where Hans Heysen lived and worked for more than six decades.

The project brings together contemporary exhibition and archival facilities with a design that draws heavily on its natural surroundings.

For Fore Design Design Director and Principal Scott Robinson, creating a permanent home for the collection was about more than simply designing an exhibition space.

“From the outset, the vision was to create a lasting home for the Hans and Nora Heysen collection,” said Scott.

“We wanted to create a place that not only protects these important works for future generations but also feels intrinsically connected to the landscape that inspired so much of their creation.”

That connection is particularly evident in the gallery’s exterior, where natural hardwood elements and a strong vertical rhythm reference the heavily treed setting surrounding The Cedars.

The design also draws on the towering eucalypts that feature throughout Hans Heysen’s paintings, with an ochre-pigmented concrete façade and closely spaced panel joints reinforcing the building’s vertical form.

The materials were selected with more than aesthetics in mind, too. Located in a high bushfire-risk area, the gallery required a palette capable of balancing durability, resilience and performance while still creating a warm connection to its setting.

The project also changed significantly during the design process to reduce its impact on the surrounding landscape.

Early plans identified 48 scattered trees for removal, but changes to the building’s position and infrastructure layout reduced that figure to 13. Much of the development was ultimately located within an existing exotic pine plantation, helping minimise the impact on significant native vegetation and the iconic eucalypts around The Cedars.

Flex Planning managed the complex planning approval process, which involved heritage, native vegetation and CFS considerations.

The project was also shaped around the practical realities of running a cultural institution supported by a dedicated volunteer community, with the building footprint refined to create a more efficient and manageable facility without compromising the visitor experience.

The gallery was delivered in collaboration with The Cedars, construction partner Marshall & Brougham, Fore Design, Flex Planning and a wider team of consultants and stakeholders.

Heysen Foundation Director Kerry Heysen-Hicks AM said, “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.”

Interior designer Emily Nitschke also contributed to the visitor experience, while Marshall & Brougham brought the building to life through challenging weather and construction conditions.

Funded through the Adelaide City Deal, the Heysen Gallery represents a significant investment in heritage conservation and cultural tourism in the Adelaide Hills.

More importantly, it gives visitors the chance to experience the work of Hans and Nora Heysen in a setting intimately connected to their lives and creative work.

The result is a new piece of architecture within The Cedars that brings art, landscape and history together, while helping ensure the Heysen story continues for generations to come.

Heysen Gallery at The Cedars
When: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4:30pm
Where: 68 Heysen Rd, Hahndorf SA 5245
For more information, click here.

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