[VIS] Adelaide Concert Hall

[Nathan]

Well this is unexpected. Frank Gehry has agreed in-principle to design a new concert hall in Adelaide.

Adelaide looks to a Frank Gehry sensation
MATTHEW WESTWOOD AND REBECCA PUDDY From: The Australian November 01, 2011 12:00AM
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/ar ... 6181933591

INTERNATIONAL architect Frank Gehry - designer of the gleaming Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles - has given in-principle agreement to designing a concert hall in Adelaide.

While the idea is in its infancy and there is no funding in place, Gehry is said to have supported the suggestion when it was put to him on behalf of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

The ASO has complained that its two venues in the city - the Festival Theatre and Adelaide Town Hall - are less than optimal for large concerts.

The approach to Gehry was made by ASO board member Anthony Steel, who met the LA-based architect when Steel was briefly general manager of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Gehry is working on his first Australian project. Construction is due to begin next year on a $150 million business school for the University of Technology, Sydney, to be called the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building.

As well as his Guggenheim Museum buildings designed for Bilbao and Abu Dhabi, Gehry has designed two concert halls. The Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the LA Philharmonic, opened in 2003 at an estimated cost of $US274m.

The New World Centre in Miami, home of the New World Symphony, is a multimedia concert hall that can screen video during performances.

ASO chief executive Barbara George said that while the orchestra had been well served by the Town Hall and Festival Theatre, "what we are missing is an iconic centre for music" that would attract the most renowned musicians.

She said Gehry was a fantastic architect, but added it was early days.

"There's no letter of agreement or anything like that," she said.

A spokeswoman for South Australia Arts Minister John Hill said the government was aware that the fine music community wanted a concert hall or dedicated space, but had not been approached formally by the ASO with a funding proposal.

[Will]

A concert hall is sorely needed in Adelaide, and essential if we are to maintain our 'festival city' reputation.

The fact that an architect of such high esteem has agreed in principle to design it, is an opportunity that CANNOT be wasted.

I strongly support this initiative and would gladly donate money towards it.

[crawf]

Wow

[metro]

was this that secret arts thing for the city that Mike Rann didnt want Melbourne stealing??

I cant wait to see something come of this, a nice fked up looking mess of steel designed by Gehry in standing a good location

[ml69]

As usual for things in Adelaide, whether this happens or not will come down to money. An iconic concert hall is not going to come cheap. But this could become the iconic building that Adelaide lacks. It would certainly be a coup to get a Frank Gehry designed concert hall built here

Any suggestions on location anyone? I think on the riverfront immediately west of the Morphett St bridge (opp Convention Centre expansion) would be a great location. Riverbank precinct bookended by Festival Centre on the east and Concert Hall on the west.

How about getting him to design Rann's Indigenous Art Gallery and Museum while he's at it?

[crawf]

Finding a good location would be the hard part.

[ml69]

I think finding the money will always be harder!!

[dsriggs]

Finding a good location would be the hard part.

There's gonna be a large plot just a block away from Rundle Street becoming vacant soon...

[Vee]

A concert hall is sorely needed in Adelaide, and essential if we are to maintain our 'festival city' reputation.

The fact that an architect of such high esteem has agreed in principle to design it, is an opportunity that CANNOT be wasted.

I strongly support this initiative and would gladly donate money towards it.

Totally agree.

I would also donate to a special fund to finance such an iconic building for Adelaide. A dedicated fund for music/the arts, with a specific focus on such a concert hall, could attract bequests from very rich citizens and ex pats (wish!!!!) , the mining industry (as it expands in SA) and others.

Special events and or a special lottery over a decade? and some federal government funding in the future would add to the fund, which would need bipartisan support.

[Nort]

Finding a good location would be the hard part.

West of the Morphett Street bridge, over the train lines.

[[Shuz]]

Finding a good location would be the hard part.

West of the Morphett Street bridge, over the train lines.

+1

[Tim]

on the old rah site would be a great location

[Nort]

on the old rah site would be a great location

Good location culturally being right next to Rundle Street, awful location for showing off a landmark piece of architecture though.

[Wayno]

One of the early incarnations of the riverbank/casino precinct showed this amorphous glassy blob of a building 'floating over' the festival plaza (anyone still have that image?). It'd certainly be an unusual way of integrating a concert hall into the riverbank region.

How many seats are we talking about in this concert hall?

[Goya's Line]

+1 on locating it between the research and convention centres (sorry skatekids). I walk to City West along Gray St just for the HMRI view these days... as a focal point these buildings should engage with side- streets and alleyways.

Also, f' yes! bring it on!