The Hedberg

2022 National Architecture Awards: National Award for Interior Architecture

The Hedberg | LIMINAL Architecture with WOHA

Traditional Land Owners: Gadigal Land

Consolidating an important urban nexus of Hobart, The Hedberg vision presents a performing and creative arts destination and education precinct that fuels Tasmania’s cultural offering in a contemporary global context.

LIMINAL Architecture with WOHA was awarded to deliver this centre of creativity and performance, in a unique collaboration between the University of Tasmania, Tasmanian and Commonwealth Governments and the oldest operating theatre in Australia, the Theatre Royal.

The design strategy balances the theatrics of the building’s purpose and sensitivity to its urban and heritage context. The external expression suggests a shimmering theatrical curtain, pulled open to reveal the warmth of the activities within. Its sparkle takes its cue from the opalescence of abalone shells, traditionally used to carry fire.

Collocated with the Theatre Royal, The Hedberg integrates performance hubs and venues, rehearsal spaces, creative workshop ‘laboratories’, front and back of house spaces and adaptive reuse of the heritage-listed Hedberg Garage.

JURY CITATION

The Hedberg is a dexterous assembly of new performing and creative arts facilities whose interiors joyfully weave together its stories, spaces and programs. The wide range of technically impressive and beautiful teaching and performance spaces have been designed around accessible, legible pathways, and internal and external voids. This in turn creates opportunities for activation and performance, while shining light into all spaces and connecting the heart of the building to nature.

While the spaces and their expression have been shaped by their particular needs, they also offer flexibility and adaptability for a wide range of uses. The interiors are enriched by the inclusion of artefacts and data reflecting the multi-layered history of the site and its buildings, including a fabulous foyer carpet designed by First Nations Tasmanian artist Michelle Maynard.

Client perspective:
How does the design benefit the way you live/work/play/operate/educate/other?

LIMINAL delivered a remarkably finely textured and storied building. Poets of space who have created an architectural instrument to be played by performers and like a great instrument, the performance is finer because of the quality of the stage upon which it is performed.
Links to deep time remind us that gathering as a community to share in the unique ceremony of live performance is a quintessentially human experience. Embracing the site’s working-class history reminds us these are experiences for everyone.
The Hedberg raises the University’s ambition, providing an exceptional home worthy of expanding Tasmania’s creative talent into the future.

Builder:

Hansen Yuncken

Construction team:

DCWC with Matrix Management Group, Quantity Surveyor
Pitt and Sherry, Building Surveyor
Aware 365, Safety in Design
Bligh Tanner, Glazed Facades
Austral Tasmania, Archaeological Consultant
LIMINAL Graphics with Holly Webber and Red Arrow, Graphics and Signage
Arup, Environmental Sustainability Consultant
IreneInc, Planning
Leigh Woolley, Urban Design
Forward Consultancy, Heritage Architect
Peacock Darcy Anderson, Land Surveyor
Arup with JMG, Fire Safety
Howarth Fisher, Traffic Engineering
Arup with Southern Lighting, Architectural Lighting
Inspiring Place, Landscape Architect
Arup with JMG, Mechanical, Hydraulic and Electrical Engineers
Arup with Gandy & Roberts, Civil & Structural Engineers
Arup, Theatre Planning, Acoustic and Audio Visual