The proposed Treasury Building development is not the only civic building courting controversy in Perth, following the announcement by Culture and the Arts Minister Sheila McHale of a $42 million performing arts venue to be built on the corner of Roe and William streets in Northbridge.
A concept plan for the venue by Fremantle architects Kerry Hill beat an international field of 40 in a design competition judged late last year.
Elements of the design include a 525 to 575-seat main theatre encapsulated by a curved timber cylinder and a 200-seat studio theatre inside a black metal cubic space, surrounded by associated rehearsal and production areas.
An illuminated fly tower is expected to become a compelling night-time landmark and a major public artwork is currently being planned to mark its exterior.
The new venue will replace the Playhouse Theatre, which will remain open until 2008.
The venue’s location is the principal point of contention, with the City of Perth of the belief that a Northbridge locale only further fragments Perth’s arts venues.
Despite the project’s endorsement by the minister and Arts WA, the city council is working on its own version of a performing arts precinct to occupy the site of an existing carpark, opposite the Perth Concert Hall.
Council is incorporating its need for an irrigation lake for Langley Park into the design, by creating a central pond surrounded by an open-air amphitheatre with an adjacent 2,000-seat theatre and two-storey car park.
The bold plan reflects the council’s desire to re-activate the Esplanade, and keep the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra and the WA Ballet on the city side, by providing them with a new base.
Department of Culture and the Arts director general Alistair Bryant told WA Business News more than 50 individuals and organisations had input into the planning process, with 11 sites identified and examined by a steering committee of 12, chaired by Government Architect Geoffrey London.
“They identified the Northbridge site as the best…some of the sites were ruled out by the committee on the basis of significant heritage issues, planning problems such as height restrictions, and lack of supporting infrastructure including bars, restaurants and car parking,” Mr Bryant said.
The venue is expected to be complete by late 2008, and will enable more production companies of an international standard to tour Perth.
