Johnson Pilton Walker in association with Utzon Architects
Sydney, Denmark
JPW has designed several important civic buildings and urban spaces in Sydney and Canberra, many of which involve sensitive heritage issues.
Utzon Architects is one of the world’s most distinguished architectural practices. It was founded in 1950 by Jørn Utzon, who won the competition to design the Sydney Opera House in 1957. The practice is now directed by his son Jan Utzon, who studied architecture in Sydney and Copenhagen.
Their design concept includes the following elements:
- The new facilities reinforce the existing civic group of buildings, relate well to the heritage items, provide a dramatic link to the Northbridge precinct and will make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Perth cultural precinct.
- The podium of precast clad elements extends the open space of the cultural centre as a stepped platform that folds and terraces down into the colourful character of Northbridge. It provides a new sequence of open, accessible and safe public spaces of civic scale.
- The new landscaped forecourt shared with the art gallery provides both a distinguished civic entry as well as a venue for a vibrant outdoor performance space.
- The iconic roof element that defines the public foyer spaces above the podium is inspired by the regular sound waves of voice and the rhythms of dance. It is generated by a singular sine curve geometry and can be simply and economically prefabricated in steel.
- Environmentally responsible initiatives for energy usage, water conservation, natural ventilation and adaptive reuse of heritage items.
View the Stage 1 design from Johnson
Pilton Walker in association with Utzon Architects
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