Monolithic Showcase Engineering | MONA Wunderkammer

Gallery: Museum of Old and New Art

Location: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Project: Wunderkammer Showcase - Museum of Old and New Art

European Museum Technology

Monolithic Showcase Engineering | MONA Wunderkammer

Structural concrete enclosure fabrication and precision glazing for MONA’s cabinet of curiosities

European Museum Technology engineered and installed bespoke monolithic Wunderkammer showcases for the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, combining unconventional materials with structural precision.

Background & Scope

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is located on the Berriedale peninsula in Hobart, Tasmania, and is the largest privately funded museum in the Southern Hemisphere. Its curatorial approach is based on the idea of a modern Wunderkammer, or cabinet of curiosities, which brings together cultural artefacts, antiquities, and contemporary artworks from different periods. The museum’s design posed an engineering challenge, as the team had to realise the designers’ vision using cast concrete enclosures and unusual structural materials, all while staying within the set budget.

Concrete Enclosure Fabrication & Unconventional Materiality

Concrete Enclosure Fabrication & Unconventional Materiality

Detailing the structural casting and fabrication of the monolithic concrete showcase housings, engineered to support substantial structural loads while delivering an unadorned, industrial aesthetic suitable for both indoor galleries and external grounds.

Rigging, Transportation & Site Installation

Outlining the crane-lift mechanics, structural rigging, and transport logistics required to position the heavy-format pre-cast enclosures on site at MONA, followed by the precision integration of high-security architectural glass panels and internal display mountings.
Monolithic Showcase Engineering | MONA Wunderkammer