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Jørn Utzon and Peter Hall in the
crafting of the Sydney Opera
House.
Original fabric has been
revealed as punctuations in the
composition, giving a sense of
history and continuity. Exquisite
detailing reveals the character
of each material with craft and
care readily apparent. Being
completely internal the spaces
have no relationship to the
outside, yet provide a serene and
delightful environment in which
to work.
Deftly working within the confines
of Sydney’s most famous building
Scott Carver have created a space
rich in material qualities despite
a very rigorous technically driven
brief. Sensitive planning organises
a series of acoustically isolated
areas which remain visually linked
via internal windows and a high
level mezzanine.
Upon arrival one is greeted by
spaces dark and rich in material
texture, creating an atmosphere
of intense concentration highly
appropriate to the nature of
work that takes place in these
recording studios.
Within the studios themselves
acoustic timber panelling is
layered on every vertical and
horizontal surface, projecting
a strong individual identity
for these new spaces while
immediately eliciting a memory of
the Opera House’s much grander
performance halls and subtly
acknowledging the hand of both
Photography: Geoff Ambler
Sydney Opera House Recording Studio
Scott Carver
SMALL PROJECT
ARCHITECTURE AWARD
with almost deferential sensitivity,
exposing the pre-existing ceilings
and services.
The jewel-like quality of the
spaces is created through the
use of luxurious materials which
include American Oak timber
flooring perfectly matched with
the wall panelling, folded and
perforated brass screens and
bronze mirror, and enhanced by
lighting and well crafted details.
The beautifully crafted wall panels
are folded out at the top creating
a sense of enclosure as well
as creating a space behind for
service reticulation. The materials
are self finishing and chosen for
durability and long life.
An inventive approach to an office
interior programme, the success
of the project is achieved through
its conception as a cityscape
rigorously applied to its spatial
planning, detailing and execution.
The brief for this small office
interior in Hunters Hill for the real
estate agent Bresic Whitney called
for an open plan arrangement
of 15 to 20 staff and, unusually,
for the display of the agency’s
contemporary art collection.
The programme has been
creatively interpreted by
Chenchow Little as a miniature
townscape within the building’s
unremarkable shell, a strategy
which provides a framework for
the arrangement of meeting
rooms, office spaces, reception
and supporting amenities. The
awkward geometry and low
ceilings of the existing office space
are skillfully accommodated and
spatial qualities enhanced through
imaginative interior planning,
where irregular circulation spaces
are envisaged as streets and
meeting rooms as small houses
within the interior ‘city’.
Interiors are sleeved within the
enclosing office tenancy shell
Photography: Peter Bennetts
Bresic Whitney, Hunters Hill
Chenchow Little
SMALL PROJECT
COMMENDATION
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