The Heide Museum of Modern Art near Melbourne, Australia, is set for reopening after an 18 month, AUS$6m (£2.4m, 3.5m euro, US$4.4m) redevelopment on 18 July.

The redeveloped Heide III building, designed by Melbourne-based O’Connor + Houle Architecture, will feature the Albert & Barbara Tucker Gallery and the adjoining Tucker Study Centre.

The building also contains a new foyer, administration area and Heide Store, as well as behind the scenes changes such as expanded collection facilities and upgrades to the climate cooling system.

O’Connor + Houle won the contract to design the building in 1999 and work on the project started last May.

A third of the funding for the redevelopment came from donations and the remainder from government contributions.

Lesley Alway, Heide’s director, said: “2006 promises to be a milestone year, with the new Heide launching in July and then our 25th anniversary in November.” Details: www.heide.com.au