Sustainable Australian Wood Panels Feature in Melbourne Recital Centre

Sustainable Australian Wood Panels Feature in Melbourne Recital Centre

By David Rowlinson  March 5th, 2018

The Melbourne Recital Centre is an acclaimed music destination combining architectural innovation and acoustic perfection within its two performance spaces to showcase the best music, artists and ensembles from around the world. The building won the Property Council's National Award for Public Buildings - the country's highest award for a public buildings. It also won the Victorian Architecture Medal, the William Wardell Award for Public Architecture and the Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design at the Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Architecture Awards.

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Article first appeared in Responsible Wood

The Melbourne Recital Centre is an acclaimed music destination combining architectural innovation and acoustic perfection within its two performance spaces to showcase the best music, artists and ensembles from around the world. The building won the Property Council’s National Award for Public Buildings – the country’s highest award for a public buildings. It also won the Victorian Architecture Medal, the William Wardell Award for Public Architecture and the Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design at the Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Architecture Awards.

Developed by Lendlease and designed by Aston Raggatt McDougal, the $75 million building is considered “acoustically perfect”, drawing fundamental influence from the traditional box shape of European concert halls.

The auditorium is lined with striking hoop pine panels, designed to resemble the back of a beautiful instrument, and provides greater acoustic intimacy across the 1000-seat auditorium. The symmetrical routed plywood panelling has a 3-dimensional textured surface which optimises the acoustics in the same way as the lumpy gilded caryatides, friezes, dentils and coffers in halls of earlier eras.

Specifically chosen for its acoustic and aesthetic properties, the A-grade plywood used for the wall panels were supplied by Brisbane-based Austral Plywoods, manufacturer of premium grade plywood.

Photo courtesy of Austral Plywoods

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By David Rowlinson

Make it Wood Program Manager

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