IELTS Reading Passage: Crossing the Threshold
The renovated Auckland Art Gallery in New Zealand unites old and new, creating an irresistible urge to step inside
Architects are finding it very difficult in today's cultural landscape. The profession faces a three-way threat: a public that apparently doesn’t understand what architects do, developers who couldn’t care less what they do, and overbearing councils micromanaging every single aspect of what they do. According to sources within the architectural profession, the situation is much worse when architects work on municipal buildings, as architects FJMT and Archimedia discovered with their Auckland Gallery makeover, where a vast number of external pressures threatened the project, and with so many bureaucratic difficulties it looked doomed to fail.
The major challenge of the gallery renovation project was that it involved two parts. The first was to restore the heritage building, an elegant brick 19th century villa, which was in a dreadful state of repair, while maintaining the dignity of the former design. The second was to extend the site into an adjacent land occupied by a car park. However, this second challenge was where the team excelled: the result was a bold, contemporary structure of timber and glass that sits harmoniously alongside the original villa. While it is visually striking, the design also satisfies the practical need to bring in natural light. Thanks to this modern wing, Auckland Art Gallery now has a significantly larger space for exhibitions, a varied range of galleries with high-room volumes, intimate rooms, and engaging new spaces.
A second key issue was how people’s understanding of the gallery contrasted with its original intention. For many years it was regarded as a rather old-fashioned institution. The Threshold Test — where young people are monitored for entering, pausing and coming out after only a few moments — confirmed a serious misperception. Fewer young visitors meant fewer families and a continuing downward trend. The renovation needed to tackle this head-on: a new vibrant space, celebrated in a prime location, attracting both tourists and locals. The result: a 50% increase in visitor numbers within the first year and enthusiastic reviews describing the gallery as “world-class.”
The commitment to Maori culture was beautifully handled through artwork. It was appropriate for a city built on the site of early settlements. Another success in the refurbishment of the heritage building, especially the Mackelvie Gallery, lay in stripping back layers of inappropriate earlier work to reveal its original character while upgrading it to modern standards. The new floor level now aligned with surrounding spaces, and visually connected to the rest of the gallery. The sense of flow, light, and openness was much improved.
The project was a collaboration between architects and artists, with artworks integrated into the spaces. One striking example was the entrance canopy by artist Lisa Reihana, which features Maori motifs and welcomes visitors in a culturally significant way. The Auckland Art Gallery has been transformed from a tired institution into a vibrant, modern gallery, while respecting its rich heritage and cultural context.
Questions 27–31
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
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What is the writer’s main point in the first paragraph?
A. Criticism of architects by different groups is unfair.
B. The architectural profession is generally well respected.
C. Municipal buildings are more difficult to renovate.
D. Failure to deliver buildings is due to poor communication. -
The Auckland Gallery project was particularly difficult because
A. the existing building was old and parts of it had fallen down.
B. there was a high number of bureaucratic challenges.
C. it involved removing parts of the building and adding a new one.
D. it needed to satisfy the requirements of three distinct groups. -
What disturbing information did the architects find out from the survey of young people?
A. They did not visit the gallery because of the way it made them feel.
B. They thought the building’s design was too formal.
C. They disliked the way the gallery was organized inside.
D. They did not like the entrance. -
What does the writer mean by saying that 50% of the sample group did not know where the museum was?
A. The project was not marketed in general.
B. The gallery was not reaching out to young people.
C. The entrance to the gallery was not attractive enough.D. The location of the gallery itself was difficult to access.
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Maori artists were used on the project to
A. reflect the awareness of conservationists.
B. produce a more modern building than before.
C. connect the design to the cultural heritage of Auckland.
D. ensure that some traditional forms of artwork were used.
Questions 32–36
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer?
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.
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Before the renovation, the Auckland Art Gallery was regarded as an elitist institution.
-
Stephen King’s intervention in the project showed his understanding of the architect’s use of light.
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The way the building interacts with its surroundings is unique.
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The glass flooring in the Mackelvie Gallery was retained as a feature.
-
The design of the extension to the Auckland Art Gallery is similar to the design of white cube galleries in other parts of the world.
Questions 37–40
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A–F.
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The destruction of Edwardian ornamentation
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It is extraordinary that it has limited number of photographs
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The proportion of buildings many floors is small
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The glass flooring in the Mackelvie Gallery was replaced to
A. resulted in work being done in the opposite direction to that originally planned.
B. uncovered ornamentation and columns that showed the Maori culture.
C. was the cause for rebuilding the Mackelvie Gallery successfully.
D. resulted in the rebuilding of part of the building’s original interior.
E. meant photographs should be used to tell where you are in the old wing or the new one.
F. was the result of earlier attempts to modernise the building.
Answer Key:
27 → C
28 → D
29 → A
30 → B
31 → C
32 → NO
33 → NO
34 → YES
35 → NOT GIVEN
36 → F
37 → C
38 → A
39 → E
40 → F
PASSWORD
5JULYIELTSONESTOP
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