Upon arrival, he visited the fully completed museum. The building spanned over 40,000 square meters—almost as large as the Louvre. Artwork and antiques were being arranged inside. Hardy had been personally involved in overseeing the layout; setting up an exhibit of this scale was no small task.
The museum's largest section was dedicated to European art, with galleries highlighting Portuguese and Dutch pieces, including exquisite furniture and antiques. Hardy also planned a Southeast Asian gallery to showcase Malaysian and Filipino art, reflecting a balance often seen in international museums.