Perth Concert Hall celebrated its 50th anniversary on 26 January, marking half a century of some of the highest quality performances in the country, and arguably, the world.
Built in 1973 and designed by local architects Jeffrey Howlett and Don Bailey (Howlett and Bailey Architects), it was the first concert hall to be built in Australia after World War II. The hall, which seated 1,891 people, is the primary venue of the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, but it has hosted a suite of events and performances, from classical ensembles to jazz musicians, comedians, and celebrity chefs.
Highlights over the years have included the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as global artists like Billy Joel, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Sting.
Renowned for its enduring high standards of acoustics, Perth Concert Hall was voted in 2011 as the best venue of 20 major Australian concert halls in a Limelight magazine survey performers and critics. In 2016, the building received the Australian Institute of Architects’ National Award for Enduring Architecture, for its brutalist mid-century architecture.
“What appears to be quite a simple, white, off-form concrete, post-and-beam construction is, upon closer inspection, understood as being completely innovative for 1973. The building is actually hung from itself, creating enormous free spans and all from one beautifully poured material,” the jury said.
Perth Concert Hall by Howlett and Bailey Architects.
Image:
Courtesy of The City of Perth
The Perth Concert Hall was built at a cost of $3.2 million (a remarkably modest budget compared to the Sydney Opera House, which was built for $102 million and completed in the same year). Its auditorium features a 3,000-pipe organ specially commissioned by Ronald Sharp, who was also responsible for the organ in the Opera House).
In 2022, With Architecture Studio and OMA were appointed to design the redevelopment of the building, which will improve accessibility and better preserve the heritage features. The redevelopment is due to begin in 2024.
Culture and Arts Minister David Templeman said the red carpets and winding staircase of the heritage-listed concert hall hold “special memories” for many Western Australians.
“There are too many highlights to mention but I recall the Peony Pavilion taking place inside the hall as part of Perth International Arts Festival in 2000, and Perth Festival’s contemporary music hub set up in the hall in 2020,” Templeman said. “I remember seeing Billy Joel perform a magnificent concert at the Concert Hall which had the crowd whipped up to a frenzy… Here’s to another 50 years of artist and audience enjoyment at our wonderful world-renowned Perth Concert Hall.”
Source: Architecture - architectureau
