Placement of Auditorium

The auditorium was placed on the ground level for 4 main reasons.

Level 4

1. Access to loading bay at road level. Loading bays are a necessary feature to any auditorium design. They allow movement of performers as well as props, instruments and other backstage necessities.

2. Public access. Positioning the auditorium closer to the St Kilda road access point allowed all public access to be one part of the building, enabling private programs to be further up in height.

Level 3

3. Darkness and Low noise. The auditorium used is a fully enclosed space, therefore needing a dark and contained environment which stops large amounts of natural light filtering in the space through doors. As an acoustic space it also needs to be quiet within its surrounds. As much as it is positioned close to the City Road boundary, most noise in the precinct will be in the gardens on level 4 as well as in spaces such as the foyer, restaurants and offices.

Level 2

Level 1

4. Space for Dressing Rooms. As the auditorium is a multipurpose hall catering for medium sized audiences, dressing rooms need to be provided for large and small groups of performers. These need to be within easy reach of the stage as performers can not be running up and down flights of stairs to get to the stage, or can’t be waiting for the lift to cram into a small space to get down to stage level.

Gardens

Level 4: Public Access Gardens (Proposal Precinct)

Level 8: Public Access Gardens

Since our building borders an 18 thousand square meter garden we have mimicked a similar language throughout our building, bringing the gardens to a new height. With gardens within the precinct, Level 8 and Level 16 we have created a hierarchy from fully public, to private space. The Level 8 gardens are a welcoming space for those using the auditorium or lower half of the building to relax, enjoy fresh air or have a break. Level 16 hosts an open air space for the offices and more private programs within the building. As the building increases in height, the gardens get smaller. This creates a more intimate space relating to the different functions.

Level 16: Private Access Gardens