A $20 million extension to Mona could begin by May and the museum’s long-mooted hotel project by next year.
Plans for a new wing protruding 20m over the River Derwent have been submitted to Glenorchy City Council.
The 750sqm extension will house four light-based works by acclaimed American artist James Turrell.
They include a light tunnel, dark space and meditation space.
“You lie on a platform on your back like an operation table and you slide into a sphere and it’s a sound and light show,” Mona projects manager Steve Devereaux told the Sunday Tasmanian.
“It really bombards the mind with sound and light.”
Turrell’s outdoor light and colour installation, known as Amarna, already calls Mona home.
Museum owner David Walsh will foot the $15 million to $20 million bill for the new wing, the first in a series of major projects planned for the Berriedale site.
Work will begin in mid-May, if council approval is granted, and is expected to take 15 months.
“We needed a fairly significant chunk and basically one of the few areas we could do it was to protrude out over the water,” Mr Devereaux said.
Mr Walsh unveiled a vision for Mona in December, with his Monaco casino, Homo hotel and two artist-designed playgrounds also among the plans.
The proposed high-rollers casino will depend on an agreement with Federal Group, which holds exclusive rights to gambling venues.
That remains up in the air following a stand-off over Federal’s poker machine monopoly.
MORE: MONA CASINO BID DROPPED IN POKIES FIGHT
Mona will forge ahead with plans for its hotel regardless and expects to submit a development application later this year.
Construction would start in late 2017 or early 2018, Mr Devereaux said.
“The Turrell gallery will be our major building project up until we commence work on the hotel,” he said.
The extension, which will also include a cafe, is expected to create 20 new jobs at Mona.
The museum’s five Turrells will make it one of the world’s leading exhibitors of the Arizona-based artist.
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