COMPETITION
It includes a theatre, functions spaces, bars, restaurants and foyer spaces.
The new building ties the existing heritage Weld Theatre and Art Geo buildings together with and urban ‘stitch’ of white-painted brick, concrete and brass mesh.
The building opens up to the street allowing a permeable façade inviting the public in, effectively creating a series of internal piazzas, encouraging social interaction and performance.
The main auditorium is constructed of pre-cast concrete for optimum acoustic performance.
Retractable seating within the auditorium facilitates various formats of drama, music, trade shows, exhibition and functions.
The main volume is served by 2 floors of foyer space each with its own bar.
The top floor looks over the roof of the Art Geo building and onto the famous Busselton Jetty beyond.
Rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, green rooms and administration areas wrap around the central volume articulating the façade and minimising the bulk of the performance volume relative to the heritage street and surrounding quarter.
Foldable perforated brass screens shade the foyer and rehearsal rooms from the northern and western sun.
At night the screens are internally illuminated crating a lantern of culture in central Busselton.
