WASO may get $40m underground home
Artist's impression.
The WA Symphony Orchestra could soon have a new $40 million home in a basement-level building in front of the Perth Concert Hall on St George's Terrace.
Designed by Greg Howlett - the son of the Perth Concert Hall's original architect Geoffrey Howlett - the plan will be discussed at a special Perth City Council committee meeting tonight before going to full council for in-principle support on Tuesday.
The concept plan shows steps going down from street level to a big central plaza with a 500-seat recital hall in the north-eastern portion of the existing forecourt and a cafe on the north-western side. The building will also permanently house the orchestra's administration.
The new building's roof, at street level, will have a water feature and a light well into the rooms below.
WASO has been without a permanent home and rehearsal space since the ABC closed its Adelaide Terrace studios. The State Government has committed $8 million and Perth City Council $4 million for the creation of a new home for the orchestra.
If this plan is supported, WASO will apply for Infrastructure Australia funding.
WASO chairwoman Janet Holmes a Court said yesterday the orchestra's board was "tremendously excited" about the plan because it would also enliven a dead area of St Georges Terrace.
"Our plan also incorporates an entrance to the Concert Hall as originally envisaged by Geoffrey Howlett and provides Perth with an extra performance space for smaller groups like chamber groups, which we will use for rehearsals and recording," she said.
"This enhances the Concert Hall, whereas other plans have been for buildings which would have blocked the view of the Concert Hall and I've always felt to build something that would obscure the view would be a great shame."
Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said she felt the concept was not only complementary to the heritage building but would make it seem more "complete" than the existing red brick-paved forecourt.
