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design
mag |
23
The robust exterior of the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia opens to
reveal delicately-crafted interior spaces that unfold, surprise and delight.
The late, Perth-born actor Heath Ledger
“must have been a bird on the shoulder of
the architect” of the new State Theatre
Centre of Western Australia, according to
his father, Kim Ledger, speaking at the
opening of the $100 million facility.
The 575-seat Heath Ledger Theatre is at the
heart of the complex, along with a more
flexible space, the 200-seat Studio
Underground, as well as generous rehearsal
and backstage facilities. His sister, Kate
Ledger, added that “It’s so reflective of the
way he built and renovated his houses, it’s
quite eerie.”
Perth-based Kerry Hill Architects was the
unanimous winner of a design competition
that attracted 40 submissions from around
the world.
The Centre’s architecture arises from a
dialogue of opposing forces.
• A sense of darkness and light.
• An expression of mass and transparency
• A language that is both robust and
delicate.
The building imparts a sense of spatial
drama to the experience of attending the
theatre.The volumes are clearly articulated,
with the two centrally-located theatres
stacked vertically, freeing up space for a
large courtyard which is both an urban
plaza and outdoor event space.
The courtyards and the lower ground and
ground floor public areas are paved with
Bowral Bricks London Blue clay pavers,
including the areas under the spectacular
curtain-like Bronze Box.The clay paving
creates a solid ground plane that effectively
contrasts with the black metal, bronze and
Tasmanian Blackwood feature timber that is
the Centre’s internal signature.
The foyers are located on the site’s perimeter:
these are low transparent volumes that
reflect the scale of the surrounding streets
and celebrate the activity within. By day,
these external volumes rest calmly, with the
dark and robust materials forming a
protective shell.The layered reflection of
glass facades suggests, but does not reveal,
what is within.