Glasshouse

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Project Name: Glasshouse
Construction year: 2009
Website:
Address: Clarence St , PORT MACQUARIE - Australia

Architect(s) : Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (www.tzg.com.au)
Project Category: Cultural

Latitude: -31.429
Longitude: 152.911

Glasshouse

The Glasshouse, Hastings’ Cultural Centre, comprises a 600-seat theatre, rehearsal/performance studio, conference facilities and a large regional gallery located in the centre of Port Macquarie, a rapidly-growing coastal city. The project brief was to establish the Glasshouse as the pre-eminent performance and exhibition arts facility in the region.

The design takes advantage of the Pacific Ocean views and is based on ‘openness’ and accessibility. The gallery shares the foyer space of the theatre, allowing appropriate exhibitions to fill the public spaces and, on low-visitation days, to be operated by minimal staff.

Wrapped around the sculpted form of the tall auditorium, the naturally ventilated foyers are open and glassy. The route from entry to auditorium is an exciting architectural journey through the levels of the space, overlooking parts of the gallery. The auditorium is a semi-traditional proscenium horseshoe, with a fully equipped lyric stage and fly tower. The orchestra pit is hydraulically raised and lowered to increase the flexibility of the space. All sightlines have been computer modelled, and the sound performance designed to exacting standards.

The expressive form of the exterior signals the cultural use of the Glasshouse, echoing the movements of the ocean and sky.
(text from architects' website)

Contributed by ArchiTeam