ISSUE 01 Architecture MAGAZINE ISSUE 01 OCTOBER
ARCHITECTS
Featuing a new home for the Melbourne conservatorium of Music +
JOHN WARDLE
The tunes of life.
Ian Porter Southbank Centre
GEOMETRIC
The Ian Porter Southbank centre revals its new music centre of The University Of Melbourne. Designed by John Wardle Architects it is described as 'the new home of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music' as it celebrates the activities of music rehearsal and practice – a green room for Melbourne's arts precinct. Outwardly focused and inviting, the building balances the singular concentration required of students with the of engaging with others.
Outwardly focused and inviting, the building balances the singular concentration required of students with the camaraderie of engaging with others. The building is a place to rub shoulders with fellow music students, and the artistic milieu of the wider campus and precinct. .
DESIGNED BY JOHN WARDLE ARCHITECTS“In this latest addition to Melbourne’s artsprecinct,asensuousarchitectural vessel supports musical learning as it mediates between the performer, her fellowship, her audience and the city.
Camaraderie and dialogue, intrigue and curiosity, are here endorsed as vital to the acquisition of knowledge...”
Maryam Gusheh, Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Architecture Australia Magazine
Numerous vantage points in the conservatorium allow for appreciating the inner workings of music teaching. The learning and rehearsal spaces are interspersed with bell-shaped portholes, hinged panels and disguised windows that generously exhibit the activity within. The largest of these apertures is the locus window located on the ground floor into the orchestral rehearsal space, which offers passers-by a glimpse into the inner realm of music education.
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Design that looks and sounds exceptional.
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" This building celebrates the activities of rehearsal and practice - it is the ‘green room’ of Melbourne’s arts precinct.
At the heart of
Music
The new conservatorium promotes enquiry and contact between the musician and their community, in contrast to William Hogarth's 1741 painting
The Enraged Musician, which depicts a dispute between urbanites whose homes are on the street and a musician in the par-
The sophisticated abilities and knowledge required to be a musician are traditionally learned via many hours of hard practise. The acoustic isolation needed between rehearsal locations can amplify a musician's sense of isolation from their surroundings.
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Corey studies music performance at the University of Melbourne and is currently in his third year and plays the French horn bass. While speaking to Corey and his studies he mentioned that his spirit is filled with music, "It boosts my self-esteem and improves both my life and the lives of others. When I perform, it nourishes and satisfies me. A career like any other, it is. Why do individuals decide to work as Kmart cashiers, physicians, or mechanics? The distinction is that music frequently transcends those professions and becomes an integral part of the performer's identity—almost a need. I'm certain it's for me"(Bryans, 2022)
Corey Bryans
Bachelor of music performance
University of Melbourne
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