Much-loved robust brick and concrete buildings.
Constructed in 1972 as the Tasmanian College of Advanced Education, Hobart College was introduced to Tasmania as an inspiring hub of design education, and was once responsible for fostering some of the state’s most respected architects. As a former winner of the Australian Institute of Architects Enduring Architecture Award and a key example of 20th century Tasmanian design, the guiding principle for our work on this project was to ‘tread lightly’.
CLIENT
Department of Education Tasmania
IMAGES
Paul Redding
LAND OF
muwinina
COLLABORATORS
AWARDS
We found inspiration in the colours of the existing terracotta floor tiles laid in the theatre foyer. The mix of bright oranges, reds and purples helped to create a distinctive palette which we were able to extend through the new alterations. Using shades derived from the floor tiles, the new colours start off light within the open spaces, then grow darker and more intense as the user moves deeper into the theatre, eventually transitioning to a soft purple within the auditorium.
A 'de-ageing' process.
Minimal intervention.
An overwhelming appreciation of the existing architecture kept any structural additions to a minimum. The primary intervention, a new kiosk and ticketing area, takes cues from the hardwood clad ceiling seen throughout many of the original College buildings. While similar in feel, the scalloped timber and curving form of the kiosk bar allows for a clear distinction between old and new.
New theatre seating, lighting and audio-technical equipment, including a hearing loop system designed to assist the hearing impaired, allow the College to reach new production heights within the updated auditorium. As a visitor, and in practice, the new works have reinstated the Hobart College Theatre as a place of fun and entertainment. A place of opportunities rather than compromises.
While undeniably impressive, the 50-year-old Hobart College Theatre was beginning to show its age when our work began in early 2019. Many of the surfaces, materials and finishes had simply reached the end of their functional life. Facilities were failing to meet code requirements, and the ageing technical infrastructure within the auditorium was hindering opportunities for eager performers.
Half a century of stories.
