Architecture

A council-run community centre in Preston in Melbourne’s north has been named the Australian Grand Prix winner in the Dulux Colour Awards, while a theatre restoration project in Wellington has taken out the top New Zealand prize.
Darebin Intercultural Centre, designed by Sibling Architecture, pushes boundaries with its bold use of colour within an 1895 building. The jury said the project was an immediate stand out for its ambitious brief and contribution to its locale, with the colour contributing to a welcoming space for a diverse community.
“The deliberate avoidance of any recognizable cultural representation placed greater importance on the form and material palette, and we applaud the strong tie to the brief, achieved through the push and pull of colour and texture,” the judges said.

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Darebin Intercultural Centre by Sibling Architecture. Image:

Peter Bennetts

“Although the use of colour to define spaces is a tangible device, in this project, colour is also highly emotive, encouraging interaction and inclusion. The idea is brilliant, and the delivery is impressive, with contrasting colours representing the diverse community, balanced to achieve a cohesive, restrained result.”
The Grand Prix New Zealand winner is St James Theatre, by Shand Shelton, which recognized the restoration of what has been Wellington’s premier lyric theatre for 100 years. “The revitalization of the St James Theatre in Wellington is a celebration of craftsmanship and a gift to the community,” the judges said.

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St James Theatre by Shand Shelton. Image:

Paul McCredie

“The significance of the undertaking was potentially daunting and there were undoubtedly ‘safer’ strategies, but the architects have embraced the challenge, specifying a complex palette, inspired by early drawings of the heritage-listed building.
Prioritizing an investment in artisans to execute the intricate colour scheme has paid off, for this attention to detail has achieved optimal authenticity and light balance for theatre conditions.”
The winners were selected from 113 finalists across Australia and New Zealand. “Across the board, the high calibre of projects is to be celebrated for they represent a mastery in colour usage, which can only serve to improve our built environment, and ultimately our collective and individual experience of it,” said the judges.
Grand Prix Australia Winner
Darebin Intercultural Centre – Sibling Architecture
Grand Prix New Zealand Winner
St James Theatre – Shand Shelton
Single Residential Exterior
Winner
Nightlight – Fabric

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Nightlight by Fabric. Image:

Nancy Zhou

Residential Interior
Winner
Alma Road Residence – Studiofour
Commendations
Studio Elroy – Lintel Studio for Architecture
Mount Mac – Williams Burton Leopardi
Commercial Interior – Workplace and Retail
Winner
Postal Hall – Trower Falvo Architects with Alessio Fini

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Postal Hall by Trower Falvo Architects with Alessio Fini Image:

Benjamin Hosking

Commendation
Insight Body and Mind – Biasol Studio
Commercial Interior – Public and Hospitality
Winner
Darebin Intercultural Centre – Sibling Architecture
Commendations
S’wich Bondi – Studio Shandi
St James Theatre – Shand Shelton
Commercial & Multi Residential Exterior
Winner
PHIVE Community, Cultural and Civic Hub – Designinc

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PHIVE Community, Cultural and Civic Hub by Designinc. Image:

Brett Boardman

Student Winner – Australia
Hues of Mount Kunanyi – Ruby Shields, RMIT University
Student Winner – New Zealand
The Canopy Bench – Augustina Binyamin, Victoria University More

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The ACT government has appointed Architectus, Henning Larsen and Arup to design the redevelopment of Canberra Theatre Centre.
The redevelopment and expansion will include the adaptive re-use of the existing Canberra Theatre as a multipurpose space for performances, concerts and events, as well as a new theatre building with a 2,000-seat facility, the refurbishment of the Playhouse theatre and the significant expansion of the courtyard studio. The project will be the centrepiece of a future civic and cultural district in Canberra.
In 2022, the ACT government sought submissions from Australian and international consortia for a design and technical partner for the project.
The winning consortium envisions a vibrant, multi-event, inclusive venue designed in consultation with First Nations peoples as per the ACT government’s brief, which stressed that diversity and inclusion would be a priority in the tender submissions. Architects were asked to create designs that were supportive and inclusive of people with disabilities and those of the LGBTIQ+ community.

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Preliminary designs of Canberra Theatre Centre redevelopment by Architectus, Henning Larsen and Arup. Image:

Architectus, Henning Larsen and Arup

Preliminary designs submitted as part of the tender indicate a facade that reflects formal landmarks around Canberra.
“We will approach the design process through the lens of the audience and the performers,” said Architectus principal and public sector leader Stephen Long. “We will continue to work from the inside out to create a National theatre with an international reputation. We will also work from the outside-in to create a theatre that is enmeshed in the city and landscape, one that holds its place in the context of Canberra’s ensemble of National culture and arts buildings and brings vibrancy to the Canberra Civic and Cultural District. We seek to create a project that is an exemplar of elegance, function and sustainability.”
Henning Larsen partner and design director Viggo Haremst added, “Our design ambition is for the centre to become a national landmark and an international destination, drawing artists and audiences from around the world to Canberra’s new cultural heart.
“Together with Architectus and Arup, we’ve approached the design with great care considering the architecture and all other elements of design to create a vibrant and inclusive place that honours the history and beauty of the land. A cultural hub that celebrates the community, its diverse heritage and artistic expression, where people come together to share in the power of performance and storytelling.” More

A popular live music venue in Adelaide is set for an $8 million redevelopment if designs submitted to Planning SA are approved.
JPE Design Studio has proposed an addition to the eastern side of Thebarton Theatre that will accommodate a new entry foyer, a lift and stair to the upper level, and front-of-house amenities for the 2,000-seat theatre. A loading dock will also be added to the northern side of the existing building.
The original theatre was constructed in 1928 and called Thebarton Town Hall. It was designed by Kaberry and Chard, who designed more than 50 grand theatres around Australia (including the Enmore Theatre in Sydney).
According to its statement of heritage significance, Thebarton Theatre is “the most intact example of four theatres which remain in Australia […] designed by Kaberry and Chard, Theatre Architects.”
“Architecturally, the complex is of major significance for its outstanding integrity and interior. It is an excellent example of the late Edwardian/early Art Deco transition period, being sensitively designed and showing great attention to detail,” the statement reads.

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Proposed additions to Thebarton Theatre by JPE Design Studio. Image:

JPE Design Studio

Proposed additions have been designed to sit below the eaves of the original Theatre and Council Office Building, and the new entry will have an arched form.
“The curved arch form is a softer yet bolder response that also sits comfortably alongside the existing Theatre building,” the architects said in the planning application.
“There is a subtle reference to the arched parapet of the existing building, but this curved form has a unique character and sense of play that is more associated with the Theatre use. This form relates more to the curved edges proposed to the new building as a way of amplifying the contract between the new and old built form.”
The $8 million project is funded by the West Torrens Council, which owns the theatre, and the South Australian government. If approved, the project is expected to be complete by 2025. More

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