Burnie City Council has released draft architectural plans for the refurbishment of Burnie Arts and Functions Centre.
Designed by Tasmanian practice Xsquared, the project will create a “reimagined space […] to experience, enjoy, and learn about our local identity through arts, history and performance,” the council said.
Transforming the existing centre, the new design has been developed in consultation with the community and will feature an integrated multi-storey complex, with better connectivity to the CBD and enhanced community engagement.
Xsquared said its proposal represents a “multifaceted cultural hub” that reinvigorates the existing site on the fringe of the CBD. Renovations and additions will enable the integration of the Burnie Regional Art Gallery and the Burnie Regional Museum within the one building, creating a dynamic contemporary arts hub within a broader cultural precinct in the regional Tasmanian city.
Architectural render of Burnie Cultural Centre atrium.
Image:
Xsquared Architects
Xsquared director Peter Scott said robust metal cladding options were being explored to provide long-term finishes that reflect the industrial history and coastal context of the city.
“Our design responds to the industrial context of Burnie, to stringent environmental requirements for buildings adjoining Bass Strait, and to the scale of the existing building and those surrounding it,” said Scott.
Burnie Arts and Functions Centre was originally designed by Leith and Bartlett almost 50 years ago, and while it has undergone several modifications, interventions are required for more modern amenities, with improved accessibility, way finding and circulation.
Render of Long Room main entry for Burnie Cultural Centre.
Image:
Xsquared Architects
In 2021, the council announced its intentions to refurbish the centre, abandoning former plans to build an entirely new centre, the North West Museum and Art Gallery designed by Terroir, to avoid unnecessary additional costs.
“This decision was made for financial reasons because the additional expense the community would need to incur each year (around $600,000 per year in depreciation) is more than the community can afford to pay,” a spokesperson for Burnie City Council said.
“This is not just a cosmetic refurbishment of the Burnie Arts and Function Centre, but a new vision and model for culture and creativity in our city.”
The council is seeking community feedback on the draft architectural plans until 7 November.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
