Architects appointed to reimagine Arts Centre Melbourne

Arts Centre Melbourne has appointed NH Architecture and Norwegian practice Snøhetta to design its vision for the future of its Theatres Building.

The project will include critical infrastructure upgrades within the Theatres building and the replacement of the State Theatre rigging system.

Designed by Australian architect Roy Grounds, and originally conceived to have theatres and a concert hall underground, the Theatres Building was completed in 1984. However, the discovery of an underground river forced a redesign of the building.

In 1979, theatre designer John Truscott was appointed to redesign the Roy Grounds interiors for the Theatres Building and Melbourne Concert Hall (now Hamer Hall).

Commenting on the design task, Hamish Lyon Director of Architecture and Design at NH Architecture, stated “given the building was opened in the early 1980s, there’s a whole range of activities that need to be done to bring the building up to current code compliance and also to bring the three performance venues - State Theatre, Fairfax Studio and Playhouse Theatre - up to the current worlds best practice for technologies and fly towers.

“The second half of the project, which is under the reimagining category, is to build on the custodial qualities that we feel towards the Roy Grounds building and John Truscott interiors.

“At a design level, (we aim to) open the building up a bit for a bit more public and community engagement.”

The redevelopment will include a stand-alone contemporary art and design gallery for the National Gallery of Victoria, NGV Contemporary, and a new creative arts hub housing the Australian Performing Arts Gallery and the Australian Music Vault.

The development of the Arts Centre is being supported by the Victorian Government as part of the $208 milion first stage of the transformation of Melbourne’s art precinct.

A new fourth arts campus will connect to the existing theatre building, offering new and exciting spaces for rehearsals and a new tourism attraction for Melbourne – the Australian Performing Arts Gallery.

Snøhetta and NH Architecture are also currently collaborating on the Melbourne Park development.

Construction is set to get underway on that project in 2019.

Images: The Arts Centre Melbourne dopened in 1984 (top), the design team is interested in opening up the Theatres Building to the forecourt (middle) and the Theatres Building's auditorium (below). Images courtesy of Mark Gambino.