The Arts Centre (Melbourne)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Arts Centre is a complex of theatres and concert halls in the Southgate precinct of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, designed by architect Roy Grounds. The masterplan for the complex (along with the National Gallery of Victoria) was approved in 1960, and construction of the Arts Centre began in 1973 following some delays. The complex opened in stages, with Hamer Hall opening in 1982, and the Theatres building opening in 1984.
There are several distinct buildings at the Arts Centre: the Hamer Hall (formerly the Melbourne Concert Hall, which seats 2700) is used for symphony concerts; and the State Theatre (which seats 2085) is used for opera performances. Companies performing opera in the State Theatre include Opera Australia and Melbourne City Opera. In the future, it is anticipated the Victorian Opera, created in November 2005, will be making an appearance also.
The Arts Centre is located by the Yarra River and St Kilda Road, the city's main thoroughfare. The Centre is unusual in that its theatres and concert halls are built underground. The concert hall, situated closest to the river, was initially planned to be almost entirely underground, thus providing a huge open vista between the theatre spire, the river and Flinders Street Station. However, construction problems with the foundations meant the structure had to be raised to three storeys above ground. Similarly, budget constraints meant that Grounds' design for a copper-clad spire were shelved, and a shortened un-clad design was substituted. This was eventually replaced with the current 'full-height' un-clad spire.
The complex retains landmark status due to its massive steel spire and its wrap-around base. The original spire designed by Roy Grounds was 115 metres tall. By the mid-1990s, signs of deterioration became apparent on the original upper spire structure, and the Arts Centre Trust decided to replace the spire. The new spire was completed in 1996, and reaches 162 metres, though it is still based on Roy Grounds' original design. The spire is illuminated with roughly 6,600 metres (21,653 feet) of optic fibre tubing, 150 metres (492 feet) of neon tubing on the mast and 14,000 incandescent lamps on the spire's skirt. The metal webbing of the spire is influenced by the billowing of a ballerina's tutu and the Eiffel Tower.
The wider arts district includes the adjacent National Gallery of Victoria International (also designed by Grounds), the Victorian College of the Arts, and the nearby Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- History of the Arts Centre (Microsoft Word document)
[edit] External links
- The Arts Centre, Melbourne official website
- Larger image of the Arts Centre
- Maps and aerial photos
- WikiSatellite view at WikiMapia
- Street map from Google Maps or Multimap.
- Satellite image from Google Maps
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Buildings | Arts Centre Spire · Crown Casino · Federation Square · Flinders Street Station · Luna Park · Melbourne Central · Melbourne Cricket Ground · Parliament House · Queen Victoria Market · Rialto Towers · Royal Exhibition Building · Shrine of Remembrance · Sidney Myer Music Bowl |
| Precincts | Chinatown · Melbourne Docklands · Southbank · St Kilda |
| Nature and Parks | Birrarung Marr · Carlton Gardens · Fitzroy Gardens · Royal Botanic Gardens |
| Cultural Institutions | Melbourne Zoo · Melbourne Museum · National Gallery of Victoria · State Library of Victoria · Victorian Arts Centre |
| Transportation | Flinders Street Station · Melbourne Airport · Southern Cross Station |
 |
This article about an Australian building or structure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
