Jury citation
This modest project evokes a sense of surprise and delight and adds a vibrant, unexpected layer to the Perth Cultural Centre Precinct.
In designing the project, Coniglio Ainsworth Architects saw a greater design opportunity than the initial upgrade brief suggested. The architects facilitated a sense of connection with the cultural precinct through careful sculpting of views of the surrounding site and the funnelling of natural light into the internal spaces.
The seamless, faceted geometry of the wall, ceiling, bench and skylight surfaces is designed to enhance the play of natural and artificial lighting to create a luminous, crystalline interior that is reminiscent of Kurt Schwitter’s architectural/sculptural project Merzbau and the Robert Wiene film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari.
Externally, the inserted windows create a new engagement with the Perth Cultural Centre plaza, converting dark spaces into usable and serene alcoves and cloisters. In addition, these apertures enhance security for users. This project enables the revitalized facility to play a more significant part in the experience of the Perth Cultural Centre.
Nicknamed the “Loovre” by the design team, the project represents an excellent collaboration between the City of Perth, the Art Gallery of Western Australia and Coniglio Ainsworth Architects.
Credits
- Project
- Cultural Centre Amenities
- Architect
- Coniglio Ainsworth Architects
- Consultants
-
Builder
Palace Homes
Electrical consultant Hegney Consulting
Hydraulic consultant Hutchinson Associates
Mechanical consultant Steve Dunford and Associates
Quantity surveyor WT Partnership
Structural consultant BG&E
- Site Details
-
Location
Perth,
WA,
Australia
- Project Details
-
Status
Built
Source
Award
Published online: 2 Nov 2012
Words:
National Architecture Awards Jury 2012
Images:
Johnathan Trask,
Robert Johnson Photography
Issue
Architecture Australia, November 2012