Geelong Arts Centre.
Over the last six years, Geelong Art Centre has undergone a multi-staged large-scale redevelopment, now making it the largest dedicated regional arts centre in Australia. The project has been designed by ARM Architecture (Little Malop Street redevelopment, opened in ) as well as Studio 101 Architects and Hassell ( Ryrie Street redevelopment) The recently completed Little Malop Street redevelopment implemented a remarkable co-design process between Geelong Arts Centre, ARM Architecture, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and the wider First Nations community.
Regional Arts Centre Redevelopment
Geelong Arts Centre has reopened to the Geelong community offering a reinvigorated redevelopment with a range of performance, event and art spaces that will see over 15,000 performances per year. Sitting within the Geelong city centre at the heart of the cultural hub, Geelong Arts Centre is perfectly situated for the local community to experience the fantastic arts programmes on offer.
The building’s internal layout has been designed as a series of multi-purpose spaces, each lending themselves to a variety of arts, performance and general community uses. This includes The Story House; a 500-seat theatre that expands to 800 in ‘live gig’ mode, The Open House; a 250-seat hybrid theatre connected to the Little Malop Street Plaza, and a range of event spaces, including foyers, bars and alfresco dining space, Tutti - all of which facilitate diverse community experiences from concerts and exhibitions to festivals and markets.
The now distinctive translucent building features a once hidden heritage church that will further become an integral part of the Geelong Arts Centre’s unique spaces. We are proud to support the Geelong Arts Centre through a donation to The Church Giving Campaign, which will focus on the interior redevelopment of the mid-1800s hidden Church.
The now completed redevelopment has seen two new foyer levels, a bar area, state-of-the-art rehearsal studios, co-working spaces and event spaces completely transformed bringing this artistic hub to life. The redevelopment has not only transformed these spaces visually but has created new areas for entertainment to support a wide range of regional events.
Co-Design
Architect firm ARM worked closely with local First Nations community members and artists to implement First Nations stories through the design elements of the building. A range of Traditional First Nations stories of land, language, water and sky. Each of the building’s four levels evokes a different Wadawurrung narrative, with Ochre Country expressed at ground level, ascending to Moonah Forest Country, Sky Country and Night Sky Country. Collectively these tell the story of Djilang (Geelong), and of the profound traditions of performance on the Wadawurrung site for tens of thousands of years.
These stories are represented throughout the centre in varying design elements. We are proud to have been a part of this participatory design process where our design and technical teams have worked with the Geelong Arts Centre project teams to deliver a range of custom Designer Jet® carpets that speaks to the traditional stories.
The brand-new Story House theatre sees a rich blue colour palette applied across a range of interiors within the space. The blue Designer Jet® carpet was perfectly paired with the theatre seating and acoustic panelling, designed by Gunditjmara Keerray Woorroong artist, Tarryn Love, that overall creates a breath-taking view upon entrance that only adds to the spectacular performances that this space houses.
Further custom Designer Jet® carpets were used throughout the building each being relevant to the traditional story of each space. Walking into the Little Malop Street Foyer you are immediately immersed within the arts with a vibrant red design completely wrapping the interiors. This pattern is perfectly translated into the flooring using our Designer Jet® custom carpet technology. With its precision dye technology Designer Jet® custom carpets have allowed the creativity of the designers run wild applying a range of colourful and intricate designs throughout the building all the way through to the flooring.
Project: Geelong Arts Centre
Product: Custom Designer Jet® Carpet
Architecture and Design: Hassell Studio , ARM Architecture
Construction: Kane Constructions, Lendlease
Photography: John Gollings, Peter Foster, Ferne Millen
