National Portrait Gallery, Canberra

Devoted to the faces and stories of Australians, this gallery opened in a purpose-built home on King Edward Terrace in 2008 after years in temporary premises. Its collection gathers painted, photographed and sculpted portraits of figures who shaped the nation, from explorers and politicians to artists, athletes and Indigenous leaders. The airy timber-and-glass building was designed to filter natural light across the galleries, and its cafe and sculpture courtyard overlook the Parliamentary Triangle.