Melbourne’s new School of Drama building cuts a theatrical figure on its Southbank streetscape, thanks to a striking façade and whimsical design. The building’s exterior resembles a surreal theatre set, with bold colours, contrasting textures and dramatic curves.
Melbourne-based architectural firm CS+T was responsible for the building’s design, working with Peter Corrigan of Edmond & Corrigan to head their design team for this project.
“It is quite a unique building,” says Corrigan. “The brief was to design a drama school specifically to deal with the education and aspirations of actors, reflecting the volatile and dynamic nature of performance in the 21st century. It’s an attempt to bring the actor centre stage - to reinforce self esteem and raise the idea of a significant profession that is acting.”
The building’s exterior incorporates a range of different materials, selected to provide varying textures to the façade. As well as painted precast concrete and perforated powder coated steel, four different Lysaght profiles in Colorbond steel from Bluescope Steel were used, including 800sq m of Lysaght Mini Orb, 630sq m of Lysaght Kliplok 406 and 490sq m of Lysaght Trimdek in Colorbond colours such as Night Sky, Paperbark, Deep Ocean, Conservatory and Skybridge.
“I’ve used Lysaght products on a number of award-winning jobs, including Building 8 at RMIT and the Niagara Galleries,” says Corrigan. “It’s a product I have a lot of experience with. I value Lysaght products because they are Australian-made, and there are excellent and specific quality controls in the products’ manufacture.
“The high quality Colorbond finish, combined with the expanding colour range, is also an advantage,” he notes. “In addition, the product is lightweight, easily adaptable, easily transportable and quickly erected. These factors are all benefits in today’s building industry, where site erection is a considerable cost component of a project.”
Source: Building Products News.